COMMUTERS fear a proposed bus lane will only add to daily rush-hour misery on a busy dual carriageway approaching a city centre.

Durham County Council plans to introduce a bus priority lane between Belmont slip road and Gilesgate roundabout, on the A690 near Durham.

The A690 is the main feeder route into the city for traffic heading from Sunderland, Houghton-le-Spring, West Rainton, plus suburbs north and east of Durham and from the A1(M) junction, at Carrville.

Traffic backs up on a daily basis, mainly at morning rush-hour during school term time, often to beyond the Belmont slip road, more than a mile-and-a-half from the Gilesgate roundabout approaching Durham.

But as part of the Durham Park and Ride Scheme, due to start in December, the county council is building three car park interchanges, including one alongside the A690 at Carrville, each to be served by ten-minute frequency shuttle bus runs.

County council deputy chief executive, Chris Tunstall, believes bus-only lanes will ensure a speedy flow to make the shuttle service attractive to commuters.

"In order to facilitate a fast and efficient service, it is necessary to introduce bus priority measures on the main arterial links to the city to avoid delays."

Mr Tunstall said the A690 bus-only lane would expire just before Gilesgate, to maintain two-lane flow for all traffic entering the roundabout.

An extra exit lane from the Gilesgate roundabout will be added at the top of Leazes Road, now only single lane, to speed traffic flow.

Five objections have been lodged by members of the public, and there is one from the Freight Transport Association. All fear it will only add to rush-hour congestion.

Mr Tunstall said computerised modelling suggested the queues will be no longer at rush hour than they are now, due to the measures being introduced.

One regular A690 commuter, Durham office worker George Kaplan, from Ashbrooke, Sunderland, has questioned the findings of the computer.

"My initial reaction was that it will only make things worse, with traffic tailing back to West Rainton on a morning.

"I've since spoken to police traffic officers who seem to think the measures being put in will even out the situation.

"I'll wait and see. But it will be interesting to see if it is scrapped or amended if it proves unsuccessful."

The county council highways committee is recommended to approve the bus lanes at its meeting, on Tuesday.