A DANGEROUS junction left in chaos by the collapse of Merseytram could remain traffic-clogged for years.

Motorists in Tuebrook plagued by tailbacks where Muirhead Avenue and West Derby Road meet had been promised improvements with the introduction of the light rail scheme.

But when Merseytram collapsed, the roadwork programme disappeared off the agenda. And councillors now admit there are no plans for a redesign unless government ministers pay for it.

Cars heading east along West Derby Road have to stop on a roundabout to give way, causing confusion and a high number of accidents - 25 in just three years.

The junction, used by thousands of drivers every day to go between the city centre and Queens Drive, was to be revamped under Merseyside's doomed tram scheme.

Community leaders are now demanding changes are urgently made to the junction, which also has flooding problems.

Liberal councillor Steve Radford, who represents Tuebrook, said: "We have been persistently fobbed off for the past seven years with the excuse that congestion would be tackled by the tram project.

"Now that scheme has vanished from the horizon, it is totally unsatisfactory for us to have to wait indefinitely.

"Congestion at this roundabout during morning and evening rush hours is among the worst in the city and residents, many of whom do not drive, are really suffering.

"The number of accidents is appalling because people do not expect to stop on a roundabout.

"We need traffic lights tuned to the flow of vehicles so it can cope with busier times."

Senior councillors will discuss the issue at a meeting tomorrow, following a demand from a neighbourhood committee for the problem to be tackled immediately.

Areport says: "Consideration will be given to short-term, low-cost measures to address issues at this junction.

"While it is feasible to introduce minor alterations, the effects are likely to be limited, due to the fundamental underlying problems of capacity and overall operation of this junction.

"The problems can only be fully addressed as part of a larger scheme to signalise the junction.

"Further work will be carried out at this junction and on West Derby Road for the submission to the Department for Transport in spring 2007."