PLANS to switch Redhill's one-way system to two-way have been put on hold until next year.
Safety concerns with ongoing redevelopment work in the town has delayed the process, while councillors are also keen to avoid making the changes during the busy Christmas shopping period.
The four-month delay was confirmed by the council's transport policy project manager Paul Fishwick at a meeting of Surrey County Council's Reigate and Banstead Local Committee on Monday.
He said: "After a consultation with The Belfry and Surrey Police, it has been decided to move the switch from a one-way to two-way system back to February 2015. This is due to two reasons; number one the Christmas busy shopping period and, secondly, because of safety concerns."
The final stage of work on the two-way traffic scheme, which aims to even out traffic flow around the town and reduce pinch points at roundabouts, was due to begin this week.
At one stage the roads around Redhill town centre were expected to become two-way in October and at the meeting, Councillor Nicholas Harrison questioned Mr Fishwick over why it would be safer to delay the process.
The query drew chuckles from some areas of the council chamber.
Councillor Natalie Bramhall, who is both a Surrey county councillor and Reigate and Banstead Borough Council's member responsible for the regeneration of Redhill, replied: "Have you been to Redhill lately?"
Mr Fishwick said: "The construction of the one-way to two-way system is [going on] in a number of places and there are certain sections of the work which will not be completed and opening up to two-way would be effectively unsafe.
"With additional traffic coming in for the Christmas period, that could cause some problems."
The £4 million project, referred to as the Balanced Network, also aims to make some of the town's key regeneration spots more accessible.
Work to prepare the town for two-way traffic includes the redesign of the Lombard Roundabout and the redevelopment of the Gloucester Road junction, now completed.
Better pedestrian crossings will also be installed in Princess Way, Station Road and Marketfield Way and a makeover of the pedestrianised area in Station Road between Station Roundabout and Maple Square is already under way.
According to papers submitted to the committee, work on Princess Way and Marketfield Way will now continue into the New Year, with everything scheduled to be finished in time for the February go-live date.
