TWO years of major roadworks in the centre of Brighton will not disrupt the city's bus network, company bosses have promised.

Work is set to begin on the city council's Valley Gardens project on Monday, September 3, and is expected to take up to 24 months.

The first two phases of the scheme involve creating a new park between St Peter’s Church and Edward Street.

It will mean big changes to the road layout, with new routes for buses, taxis and cars.

Brighton and Hove Buses has moved to reassure passengers that their?buses will continue to run as usual during the multi-million-pound project.

Managing director Martin Harris said: “We will be working closely with the city council to ensure that there is minimal disruption to passengers’ journeys as building work progresses.

“Valley Gardens is part of the vision for a more people-friendly, cleaner and more communal space. It will open up this?part of Brighton and make it more attractive to visitors and residents alike.

“The end result will be extra green space; a simplified road layout with better links to the city centre and better access for pedestrians, cyclists and buses; as well as making it?safer and easier to cross the?road.”

When complete, traffic and bus lanes along the A23 from St Peter’s Church to the junction of Church Street will be re-routed and traffic flows will change.

Buses and taxis will have a two-lane corridor, one in each direction, on the west side of the gardens, on Marlborough Place and Gloucester Place.

Only local traffic turning left into North Laine side streets will be allowed on this side.

General traffic will be rerouted to the east of the gardens along Grand Parade.

While there will be two lanes for cars going south, this is reduced to one between Richmond Parade and North Road. There will be one lane for general traffic heading north.?

Plans for the third stage of the scheme, from Old Steine to the Palace Pier roundabout, have yet to be finalised.