Drivers will face more disruption on the roads of Norwich when the next major traffic shake-up in the city centre gets under way in the new year.
Norfolk County Council bosses have confirmed they are planning to start work on significant changes to Queens Road - on the city's inner ring road - in the first week of January.
The disruption, which will last for 15 weeks, will come at the same time as work continues on the revamp of Heartsease roundabout, which has triggered major delays for motorists and is not due to end until April next year.
But council leaders say the work, due to start on Monday, January 8, will bring benefits to bus passengers and pedestrians.
The council says the £1m project would speed up journey times and reliability for buses entering Norwich Bus Station from Queens Road.
Proposals include the creation of a short length of bus lane on Queens Road for buses turning left, with consultation over the traffic orders for that to happen currently under way.
The carriageway along Queens Road would be widened to create space for the bus lane, while allowing two lanes for other traffic.
Lanes on the approach to St Stephens roundabout would be widened by moving the traffic island on St Stephens Road.
And new lane markings on Chapelfield Road would be installed to get vehicles into the correct lane.
A new pedestrian crossing would be installed at the Queens Road bus station entrance.
And the loading bay outside the Travelodge hotel would be, in the words of the council, "simplified" to remove the separator island.
Changes would be paid for using a slice of the £32m of Transforming Cities cash awarded by the Department for Transport and Bus Service Improvement Plan cash.
Some £6m of that pot was previously spent revamping nearby St Stephens Street - which some critics slammed as a waste of money.
Graham Plant, cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport, said: “Our project in the Queens Road area of Norwich is a continuation of our commitment to improve sustainable transport infrastructure across the city.
"We’re using money from the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund and Bus Service Improvement Plan to deliver faster bus journey times and improve pedestrian access and travel information at Norwich Bus Station, extending these benefits into the heart of the city and a vital transport hub."
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