HIGHWAY chiefs hope a £500,000 improvement scheme will make a busy roundabout safer.

More than 40,000 vehicles use the Milburngate roundabout, in the centre of Durham City each day.

The roundabout, which is a key junction in the city's road network, also has the county's worst accident record.

In the past four years, there have been 37 accidents resulting in injury and many more damage-only collisions.

Work to make it safer will start at the beginning of next month and drivers are being warned that it will bring disruption.

The Durham County Council scheme, which is expected to be completed by Easter, will involve reshaping the roundabout and providing traffic lights on all approaches.

The bottom of Framwellgate Peth will be widened, pedestrian crossing points will be provided on all approaches except the Millburngate Bridge side, and bus lanes introduced.

Councillor Bob Pendlebury, council cabinet member for transport and the environment, said reducing accidents was the driving force behind the scheme.

"Given the limitations on space and the volume of traffic using the roundabout, the new arrangements are unlikely to significantly increase the amount of traffic passing through it or reduce congestion on key routes feeding into and through the city centre.

"The principal reasons for these works are to reduce the number of traffic accidents at the site, make it easier for buses coming from the bus station to enter the main traffic flows without lengthy delays and to provide safe pedestrian and cycle crossing points.

"The new arrangements will afford them much more consideration."

Officials said the period between now and Easter was "the least worst option'' for traffic congestion.

Coun Pendlebury said: "We apologise in advance for any inconvenience these works may cause, but we would ask people to be tolerant.

"We are confident the long-term benefits will outweigh the short-term disruption."

Preparatory work starts on Sunday with the moving of two bus stops on the Milburngate approach, to allow access to utility pipes and cables under the road.