WORK to prevent flooding on a stretch of one of Huddersfield’s busiest main roads starts on Monday.
But the flood work in Halifax Road, Birchencliffe, will mean delays for drivers for many months.
Yorkshire Water says the £800,000 scheme to tackle surface water will take until April 2012 to finish.
They say the road – linking Huddersfield with the M62 – will stay open but traffic lights will have to be used to control traffic flows at off-peak times.
The water company’s contractors Barhale WSP will begin work on Monday to install an underground surface water storage tank and two supporting pipes which will be capable of holding approximately 36,000 litres of rain water – roughly the equivalent of 360 baths full of water.
The new storage facilities will be capable of collecting and holding surface water during periods of heavy rainfall, before discharging it into a watercourse once any rain has dissipated.
The work takes place between Birchington Avenue and St Philip’s Church.
A YW spokesman said: “Whilst a project of this size would normally necessitate a road closure, the team has worked hard to avoid this, and to ensure two-way traffic is maintained.
“Traffic islands along the route will be removed for the duration of the work, before being restored at the end of the project.
“It will be necessary to operate two-way traffic lights to ensure the safety of all concerned, though these will only operate outside of peak traffic times.
“Temporary pedestrian crossings will also be put in place”.
