EXPERIMENTAL bus lanes will be introduced during work on one of Darlington's key radial routes.

The so-called North Road Corridor of Certainty is the borough council's project to upgrade the area between the Inner Ring Road and Longfield Road. It was given the go-ahead at Tuesday's cabinet meeting.

The three-year-scheme will cost £1.5m, about half of which will go to towards major changes at the Whessoe Road-Albert Road junction.

Peak period bus lanes will be introduced and a Scoot computer system will be used to link all traffic signals in North Road to reduce delays.

A massive consultation exercise on the proposals has ended with some complaints about loss of parking and access problems.

John Buxton, director of development and environment, said some proposals had been reviewed.

"Many of the concerns emanate from one source and that is the bus lane and the length of time that it operates.

"The hours of operation of the bus lane has attracted objection from both the public and business sectors.

"In recognition of this and the reduction in traffic queues and delays outside peak traffic periods, it is recommended that they be introduced in the first instance for the peak traffic period only - 8-9am and 4-6pm."

A bus lane on the eastern side between Wensleydale Road and St Paul's Terrace is being deleted from the proposals because of residents' concerns.

One of the key bottlenecks was at the North Road/Whessoe Road/Albert Road traffic signals which were to be redeveloped into a single crossroads with a new link road to Whessoe Road and Albert Road.

A planning application would be submitted at the turn of the year and would almost certainly involve listed building consent, a side roads order and compulsory purchase.

A new traffic signal controlled junction will be installed at North Road-Whessoe Road, including the realignment of Albert Road.

* Green buses take to the road: page 3.