THERE was good news for weary Brighton drivers today with the announcement that traffic misery in the London Road area will end earlier than expected. Work on the new traffic scheme is still due to be completed in June but Brighton and Hove Council said today that the bulk will be finished by the end of this month.

While the news will be welcomed by thousands of motorists, traders in the area are still worried. They were due to meet tonight to discuss a serious drop in business. They complain that the scheme, even when finished, will still harm their trade. Watch repairer Peter Sired, of Oxford Street, said: "They are destroying London Road in the same way as they did Western Road. They are widening the pavements but they are not providing enough parking." The early completion date may be good news but there are still bottlenecks to come. From tomorrow there will be one-way working after the morning rush for two days in part of Ditchling Road and Upper Lewes Road to allow ducts to be laid at the junction with Viaduct Road. Delays should be kept to a minimum because work will stop well before the evening rush hour. And towards the end of April, New England Road, Preston Circus, Viaduct Road and Ditchling Road will be resurfaced. There will be long delays over a two-week period at peak times. Signs will be put up advising drivers to avoid the area if possible. A diversion for northbound traffic will be installed to bypass the resurfacing between Union Road and the Viaduct Road/Upper Lewes Road junction. This will last for about three days. Environment chairman Neil Robinson said: "Most of the roadworks will be completed before the start of the Brighton Festival. "When two lanes of traffic are reopened in Viaduct Road, the route to the town centre will be much easier. "We have asked the contractor to work during the week after Easter so that traffic restrictions can be lifted early." During most of May, work will be restricted to pavement and traffic light alterations. After the Brighton Festival, anti-skid surfacing will be laid on all the approaches to junctions.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.