A bus gate will be opened to all traffic next week in a bid to ease the queues which have been infuriating drivers in Swindon.

An extra route will be open from Monday to allow traffic to flow more freely from the North Star and Hawksworth area.

Arrangements have been made to provide a second exit from North Star to allow traffic to leave by Polaris Way in addition to the traditional route via North Star Avenue from Monday.

Signs will be put in place indicating the route and the relaxation of the bus gate restrictions will be run on a four-week trial basis to assess the effect on buses that use the route.

The bus gate will continue to be controlled by traffic signals, which all drivers must obey, and the inbound route along Polaris Way will remain in use for buses only.

The restrictions on the use of all other bus lanes and bus gates in Swindon remain in force.

The decision to open up the bus gate to outbound traffic has been taken to help local businesses in the area and to help ease some of the congestion onto Great Western Way from North Star Avenue.

Work to improve the Bruce Street Bridges junction on Great Western Way started in September and will see the creation of a single roundabout controlled with part-time traffic signals during peak periods.

This work is designed to ease congestion on one of the most heavily used roads in Swindon and is part of a programme that will see two further junctions similarly improved over the coming years.

The work has been co-ordinated to take place alongside essential flood alleviation work and to coincide with the funding timetable from the Department for Transport and Environment Agency.

Coun Dale Heenan, cabinet member for highways, strategic planning, sustainability and transport, said: “The decision to open up the bus gate was taken after listening to local businesses and motorists and it will hopefully improve their journeys and ease the congestion onto Great Western Way from North Star Avenue.

“The transport team will continue to monitor traffic and the potential benefits of introducing similar measures in other parts of the town, but we have to ensure we do not exacerbate the congestion we are currently facing at peak periods.

“As the new cabinet member for transport I believe it is important to be visible, explain the situation and ensure action is taken to keep Swindon moving.

“The communication of the wider work could have been better and lessons must be learned. What has happened is not acceptable.

“Now is the time for change.

“By opening up the Polaris Way bus gate this will give small relief but we have also taken a number of steps to reduce the delays on the town’s roads by postponing 19 resurfacing works, such as Marlborough Road, Mead Way, Akers Way and Thamesdown Drive.

“SSE have also agreed to reschedule some of their major electric cabling work in Dorcan and the town centre until April.

“Utility companies currently inform the council of when they intend to do work and helped create this perfect storm.

“The council will work with utility companies in the weeks and months ahead to implement a new scheme, which will require them to ask for permission for first.”

Further information and updates on the Bruce Street Bridge improvement works can be found at: www.swindon.gov.uk/greatwesternway Regular updates on the work to replace the Swindon Road railway bridge can be found at: www.networkrail.co.uk/great-western-route-modernisation/wiltshire/