CONGESTION misery at a notoriously busy roundabout could be eased with a new £500,000 road widening scheme, writes Dan Hodges.

Plans have been drawn up by Ealing Council to relieve heavy traffic at the Target roundabout in Northolt, including wider carriageways and an extra northeast bound lane in Mandeville Road.

Electronic signs would also be installed to tell drivers when they can use bus lanes in a pilot which, if successful, could be extended to the rest of Ealing.

The project was backed by councillors at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday and a public consultation is now being launched. The work could be finished by April.

Council leader Jason Stacey said: "The Target roundabout is a byword for congestion and misery, and this will go some way to resolving the congestion problems."

Unnecessary queuing is caused at the A40 roundabout because people do not know when they are allowed to use bus lanes, according to a council report. Restricted hours in Mandeville Road only apply on week days between 7am and 10am and from 4pm to 7pm.

The scheme would also involve resurfacing and repaving work, improved line markings and better crossings for pedestrians. The carriageway would be widened between Church Road and Alderney Gardens.