The two lanes of a large section of the main arterial route are to be converted into a dual cycle and bus lane in a bold step to cut pollution.

The stretch of road running from Burnt Tree through to Birchley island at Oldbury will have the ban on all vehicles, except pedal cycles and buses, imposed as early as January 2017. 

Reynold Burtson from the Institute of Bus Routes (UK) said: "Although this is a major step and could inconvenience some drivers, we applaud the Department for Transport for realising the potential of buses to commuters.

"They can generally fit more people on them than you can in a car and they both get you to work on time and allow you to make new friends in the process".

However Myra Smith from Oldbury wasn't as supportive of the move. She told us: "I use my car to get to work each morning and this will cause chaos. 

"The idea that you could close such a large section of a main road is ridiculous and the added cost to motorists for petrol to follow diversions is ludicrous. Plus how on Earth will I hear Black Country Radio each day. It's pathetic".

Work to implement the conversion will begin in the summer with diversions set to be implemented at peak times to enable motorists to learn new routes for their morning commute.