A NEW traffic system at a busy York junction had a relatively trouble-free "baptism".

Yesterday was the first day of a year's trial measure at Walmgate Bar, which sees all traffic except pedal cycles prevented from entering Walmgate through the smaller archway.

Vehicles exiting on to Lawrence Street and Foss Islands Road are now required to stick to one lane, with staggered traffic lights alternating passage under the Bar between them and vehicles entering Walmgate.

At the peak rush hour time of 5pm, there were cars queuing along Walmgate for about 200 metres, which one motorist said was a little further than normal.

"I wouldn't normally be waiting as far back as this, but I think Skeldergate Bridge is far worse than this - that's a real nightmare during rush hour," said Bruce Wakeham, who drives along Walmgate every week night to collect his wife from work.

Although cars were at times backed up as far as the Spread Eagle pub, opposite the Margaret Street turn-off, their queuing time was on average less than a minute.

Some drivers did not stay to find out how long the queue would take to clear, turning into Navigation Road or Hope Street as an alternative route.

Heather McSwain, who works at Walmgate News, said she thought things were certain to be at their worst on rainy days.

"When it rains, it will be horrible. But I do think it's a good thing to have Walmgate Bar protected, especially if it makes drivers slow down along Walmgate. There's a children's crche up the road and it's terrifying how fast people drive past it sometimes," she said.

Updated: 10:16 Tuesday, November 02, 2004