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DRIVERS could be in for months of traffic mayhem if plans to resurface parts of a major route in to Southampton get the green light.

City council transport chiefs are poised to propose a "substantial" three-month roadworks scheme to take place between April and June at Millbrook Roundabout.

It would also hit the adjoining sections of Millbrook Road West, Regents Park Road, Tebourba Way and First Avenue.

The proposal will serve as a reminder to motorists who last year suffered months of traffic chaos while Tarmac was being replaced on the Millbrook Road West carriageway - a major artery of the city's road network.

Motoring groups already fear a repeat episode of last summer's bumper to bumper tailbacks, rush-hour gridlock and contraflows.

Hugh Bladon, from the Association of British Drivers, questioned the logic of planning the roadworks in early summer.

He said: "It should be done in March rather than May and June.

"And it should all have been done in one go. If you are going to do anything at all then do the whole thing at the same time.

"To be going back for another bit will just cause the same congestion."

Last year huge traffic jams were a common sight on Millbrook Road West as commuters slogged through roadwork diversions.

Tony Tate, from the Harley Davidson dealership, which is next to the roundabout, feared that businesses in the area could be in for a rough ride if the scheme was approved to start this summer.

He told the Daily Echo: "We get a lot of people just coming in for a look and we are concerned it will have an effect on clothing sales and people visiting our café.

"We don't know what effect it's really going to have, but the extent is going to be more this year because they are bigger roadworks."

The finer details of the roadworks have yet to be revealed and a final decision on whether they get the go-ahead is due to be made at a Southampton City Council Cabinet meeting next month.

A spokesman for the city council said that the works have been advertised at this stage so as to prevent other contractors carrying out work at the same time, should the project get the nod.