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Huddersfield's best-known roundabout – Ainley Top – is to get a once-in-lifetime revamp starting on Monday.

The massive scheme of improvement work will last for at least five months, finishing in early June.

It will mean disruption for thousands of drivers and Kirklees Council says this is the largest scheme planned for this junction for many years.

The roundabout serves traffic heading to and from the M62 motorway as well as Huddersfield, Outlane and Brighouse.

It will cost around £2m and is needed to cope with a new housing development on nearby Lindley Moor.

Because this is a major part of the road network close to the M62 it will be necessary to complete most of the scheme by working during the evening and night between 8pm and 6am on weekdays.

Work will not take place at night during weekends and bank holidays.

The roundabout will be closed to traffic for six weeks during the evenings and nights in May and early June to enable resurfacing to complete the scheme.

The roundabout will be widened to three lanes with new traffic lights on each approach and exit.

Kirklees says this should reduce congestion, lead to shorter queues, and less delays for motorists although there will still be some congestion because of the huge number of motorists who use this junction.

Improvements for drivers will include traffic lights which will control traffic movements so drivers will no longer need to find gaps in fast-moving traffic.

Pedestrians will also be able to use new ‘red and green figure’ crossing facilities.

The roundabout speed limit will also be reduced to 40mph which will improve safety for all road users and reduce the number of accidents.

Clr Peter McBride, joint Kirklees Cabinet member for Place, said: “The work on this busy roundabout is unavoidable but will largely be carried out at night to limit the disruption to drivers.

“The benefits will be less congestion and much easier and safer journeys.”

People living near to the work are asked to contact Streetscene Customer Care if they are worried about noise.