Congestion is to be tackled at a ‘nightmare’ roundabout with a £2.8m scheme.

Senior councillors in Leeds are set to give the green light to proposals to ease traffic flow at Horsforth roundabout – one of the busiest in the city.

New traffic signals are expected to be introduced this summer at the roundabout, which is often severely congested, especially during peak periods.

High volumes of traffic approaching from the A65 and the Outer Ring Road converge at the roundabout, causing chaos for motorists.

Now Leeds City Council is planning the introduction of new traffic signals to manage traffic flow through the junction, avoiding blockages from stationary traffic.

The scheme will initially involve the diversion of underground services before the main highway works begin.

The main works are expected to take eight months to complete.

The council says the need to tackle the issue has been ramped up by the approval of planning permission for hundreds of new homes on the site of the former Clariant Works, off Calverley Lane.

Central Government funding has also been secured to help towards further signals work on nearby Rodley roundabout.

Leeds City Council executive board member for the economy and development, Councillor Richard Lewis, said: “Horsforth roundabout can be a nightmare to traffic from all directions and, regardless of the nearby development, we would have taken action to improve conditions for road users.

“This is a huge scheme which will take some time to complete, but it will transform a vital roundabout on our road network. I believe the scheme, along with the improvements planned for the Rodley roundabout, will prove transformational to the movement of traffic in west Leeds.”

When the proposals were put forward last year, Horsforth councillor Brian Cleasby said: “Horsforth roundabout is where both the busy A65 and outer ring road meet and there can be long tailbacks.

“It is a key route into Leeds as well as to the airport and improvements have long been called for by myself and other road users.”