Construction work will start next year on a guided bus system to alleviate severe congestion on one of Bradford's busiest commuter routes.

The £10 million scheme got the go-ahead after it was awarded a £5.8 million Government grant.

As reported in later editions of yesterday's T&A, Transport Minister Lord Macdonald announced he had allocated cash for the project as part of Government plans to get more people using public transport to reduce city centre congestion.

Guided busway and bus lanes will be built along a 4km stretch of Manchester Road between the city centre and Odsal Top.

Construction work is expected to start by the middle of next year and will become fully operational in 2001.

The rest of the funding will be met by Bradford Council, bus company First Bradford and the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority.

Councillor Latif Darr, the Council's transport and planning executive member, said: "This will add a lot to public transport and this new service will make journeys much quicker and more comfortable for travellers."

First Bradford's managing director Andy Campbell said: "This is a most welcome demonstration of the Government's commitment to altering the balance between public and private transport use by offering fast, reliable and attractive bus services."

Bradford Chamber of Trade president, Eric Hudson, said: "With a few reservations, I'm satisfied about this going ahead.

"Certain adjustments still need to be carried out but hopefully it should lead to a better flow of traffic."

Mark White, policy executive at Bradford Chamber of Commerce, said the project compared favourably to proposals in Leeds which will make motorists pay tolls to drive in the city centre.

But Jeff Frankel, chairman of the Bradford Retail Action Group, was sceptical, saying: "Some evidence suggests that other countries are now getting rid of their guide-route buses.

"Although they lead to an increase in bus passengers, they don't take passengers away from other modes of transport - regular bus users just use buses more often."

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