The one-way traffic system around Leicester's Cultural Quarter is to be altered for six months in an experiment to see if it helps visitors get in and out of the area.
Businesses in the St George's area of the city say the existing traffic flows cause long queues at peak times – such as the end of performances at Curve – and make it hard for people to access attractions including The Phoenix.
Currently, vehicles leaving the Rutland Centre car park have to queue at the Rutland Street/Charles Street junction.
However, Leicester City Council is to make Colton Street and Church Street two- way to ease the congestion, so motorists can get on to Charles Street at a second junction.
Burton Street and Morledge Street, near the Phoenix, will also be made two-way, as will part of Southampton Street and St George Street, outside the Leicester Mercury building.
Traffic flows will change on December 2 for an experimental period of six months in the hope of making it easier to get to the ring road.
If it works, the council may make the changes permanent.
Chairman of the Cultural Quarter Business Association Cassie Soulsby, who owns the Exchange bar, opposite Curve, said: "We have found that people coming into the Cultural Quarter get confused by the whole one-way system and people trying to get out sometimes struggle.
"We have had conversations with the council and put some ideas to them and they have come up with a system that will hopefully make things a lot easier.
"Colton Street, for example, as a way into the area, doesn't serve anyone. But as an exit, it will be much better – especially if we can keep the parking as it is.
"Of course, because of the way the streets are set out it might never be perfect, but we can do something to make it better."
Assistant city mayor Piara Singh Clair said: "The aim of these changes is to make it easier for people to visit Phoenix, Curve and other businesses in the Cultural Quarter.
"As an experimental traffic regulation order, people have six months to comment, before the council decides whether to make the changes permanent.
"We will have our traffic department monitor what happens and then see how it works. At the end of six months we will decide what we change and what we don't. We hope it will help the public facilities in the area, like Curve and Phoenix, as well as private businesses."
Signs will be put up to guide motorists along the new routes. Emma Crosby, 31, from Quorn, who was visiting the Cultural Quarter yesterday, said: "I'm not sure the roads around here are very logical. I can't see the reason a lot of them are one-way in the first place. They should change it."
