The £70-million project to improve public transport corridors and ease congestion in the greater Bristol area is on track, despite approval delays.

The man responsible for the Greater Bristol Bus Network (GBBN), senior responsible owner Chris Sane, said the fact it would still be completed on time was a despite delays in securing approval.

Chris Sane, Senior Responsible Owner for the GBBN, described the news for the project as a "huge success story" given the nine-month delay in securing approval.

Work was expected to start on the network of 10 major "showcase" bus corridors in autumn 2007, but the Department for Transport did not approve the GBBN until May 2008.

Mr Sane told the West of England Partnership's joint transport executive committee: "Overall the scheme will be completed to budget and will meet the forecast 2011/2012 completion date, despite the delay in securing approval.

"Positive discussions with the Department for Transport have recently taken place and opportunities to accelerate the delivery programme are being explored.

"I think it's a huge success story. To only get approval in late May and to get the scheme off the ground and deliver the level we have this year is a great achievement."

To further ensure the network was completed on time, if not before, the committee passed a motion allowing the GBBN programme board to make decisions on any alterations costing less than £100,000.

The new bus corridors will be used by about 70 bus services. The £70m comprises £42.3m from the Department for Transport, £20m from First, £5.7m from developers and £1.8m from the four local authorities in the West of England Partnership – Bristol City, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

The 10 showcase bus corridors will include bus priority measures, improved bus shelters, signs that let users know when a bus is arriving and a new fleet of buses. The 10 corridors are; M32 into Bristol; A4018 from Cribbs Causeway to Bristol City Centre via Henbury and Westbury; A4 Bath to Bristol City Centre via Keynsham; Cribbs Causeway to Bristol City Centre via Bradley Stoke, Abbeywood and Horfield; A432 from Yate/Chipping Sodbury into Bristol; A37 from Midsomer Norton to Bristol; A4174 Ring Road from Emersons Green to Cribbs Causeway via UWE, Abbey Wood and Filton; A370 from Weston-super-Mare to Bristol City Centre; A369 from Portishead to Bristol City Centre; and A376 from Bath to Radstock and Midsomer Norton.