TRAFFIC congestion along one of Oxford's major routes is be tackled with a £3m package of road improvements.

A new bus lane could be built along London Road in Headington as part of a scheme to improve traffic flow.

Oxfordshire County Council, the highways authority, said the measures would improve bus reliability and reduce congestion.

Disruption is expected during the two 24-week sections of work - which would start next year and finish in 2009.

And the plans, which go on display at public exhibitions next month, have already caused controversy - not least because they involve the filling in of the subway in the heart of Headington.

The subway would be filled in with concrete and replaced with a push-button pedestrian crossing at Stephen Road.

In the shopping heart of Headington, pavements would be improved.

The proposals include: A London-bound bus lane between Gipsy Lane and Headley Way A London-bound bus lane between Headley Way and Osler Road - with a bus gate to give buses priority over queuing traffic Widening of the Oxford-bound road approaching Headley Way, to prevent right-turning traffic blocking buses Longer and wider bus bays between Pullens Lane and Gipsy Lane A pelican crossing outside Headington School Traffic lights at Windmill Road re-phased to allow more time for traffic turning right.

Less than two years ago County Hall looked at improving traffic flow in London Road with a two-option proposal, but it abandoned the plans after public protests.

Option one would have meant closing London Road to traffic except buses and taxis.

Option two was to change the layout of London Road, Headington Hill and St Clement's to include new bus and cycle lanes.

County council transport planner Craig Rossington said: "We are proposing limited widening of London Road to make room for an outbound bus lane.

"This would mean people using public transport can bypass stationary or slow-moving traffic.

"There would be some inconvenience while this work is going on.

"However, the longer-term gains will be worth inconvenience, in a similar way to the work the county council has successfully completed in recent years on the Abingdon Road and Green Road roundabouts."

"The proposals for improving London Road through Headington include the introduction of a push-button pedestrian crossing in place of the subway.

"Replacing it with a new crossing would represent a significant improvement for people wanting to cross the road." Headington city councillor David Rundle said: "The design tries to improve the road for bus travel but it really needs to look at improving London Road for all road-users - buses, cyclists, pedestrians and even car drivers.

"It can only do that if it doesn't look at London Road in isolation but takes a wider view of the transport system in the area.

"The most hare-brained idea in the scheme is to concrete in Headington's subway.

"To remove this would really be seen as a fingers-up from the county to the local residents and pedestrians."

The proposals will be unveiled at public exhibitions on July 6 at Oxford Brookes University and on July 7 at St Andrew's School in Wharton Road.

Janet Issac, 75, of Kennet Road, a Headington resident for 27 years, said of the proposal to fill in the subway: "I don't think many people knew about this scheme - and when they do most will be disgusted."

Oxford Bus Company general manager Louisa Weeks said: "We would welcome any changes that improved the movement of buses through such a busy area."

Stagecoach spokesman Chris Child added: "We very much hope some of the delays passengers experience along this stretch will be minimised by any road development scheme."