JUST when you thought traffic in Southampton couldn't get any worse - plans have been unveiled to put 30 traffic lights on one roundabout.

The council plans to install the traffic lights at a major city roundabout later this month have sparked fears of yet more congestion.

Last week the AA named Southampton as the fourth slowest moving city in the country with average road speeds of 17.8mph - just behind London.

Now ten traffic lights are to be put in place on Millbrook Roundabout, with two lights each at five different points.

And ten "toucan" crossings - with two traffic lights each - for cyclists and pedestrians are to be put at the roundabout's five approaches and five exits.

The work will take the total number of traffic lights on the roundabout, its approaches and exits from none to a staggering 30.

Fears have been raised by the Association of British Drivers that the lights could cause permanent traffic jams.

Regional spokesman Roger Lawson said: "There are a few cases where there is a need for traffic lights. But the whole point of a roundabout is that there should be a continuous flow of traffic. With traffic lights, vehicles have to pause and this interrupts the flow."

The Highways Agency caused mayhem when it installed new "intelligent" traffic lights at the junction of the M27 and M271 last year.

Thousands of drivers faced daily motorway misery in what was dubbed one of the "worst highways blunders in the south".

They were forced eventually to switch them off before changing the way they were phased.

Nicky Hirst, of Southampton and Fareham Chamber of Commerce, said it was hoped disruption from the latest work could be kept to a minimum.

'Safety is key'

Grant Woodall, spokesman for Business Southampton, which represents more than 80 businesses, said: "Safety is key but it is also important for Southampton businesses that the city has a good transport infrastructure."

Roads are also to be resurfaced and new pedestrian and cycle paths introduced when work on the Millbrook Roundabout and Dock Gate 20 begins on April 21.

During the roadworks local diversion signs will be put up and a temporary 30mph limit will be introduced on Millbrook Road (including the flyover), Redbridge Road and Tebourba Way.

Traffic bosses at Southampton City Council have said that once the work is completed there will be better traffic flow and safety improvements.

A council spokesman said that "every effort" would be made to keep disruption to a minimum, with some of the £2m scheme being carried out overnight.

A three-week public consultation and traffic studies were carried out earlier this year.

Council leader June Bridle said: "This is a huge investment by the council to improve Southampton's road infrastructure. Southampton's built environment and economy is developing at a fast pace in support of its importance as the regional centre. It's essential we improve our road infrastructure to cope with this."

The city council has pledged to invest £22m this year on a range of mainly transport-related projects, including maintenance works for Millbrook and Redbridge flyovers.

The roundabout's new traffic lights will add to Southampton's current total of 102 traffic-controlled junctions and 89 pedestrian- controlled traffic lights.