A gasworks programme that has slowed traffic to a standstill through Elgin is scheduled to conclude in early October.
Motorists making their way through the town have faced lengthy delays for much of the past month, as work is carried out on the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness road.
Gas distribution firm SGN has now revealed plans to continue the mains replacement project along a nearby street, after work on the busy trunk route concludes on the artery in a fortnight.
The programme will be expanded to South College Street at the beginning of September for the final phase.
Moray Council has confirmed that the street, which links Pansport Road to the A96, will be closed to traffic for five weeks from the beginning of the month.
An SGN spokeswoman said: “As part of a wider project to upgrade the gas network in Elgin, we will shortly begin work in South College Street.
“A temporary road closure will be in place from Monday, September 5, for approximately five weeks.”
The project began this spring, when outdated pipes along Pansport Road were replaced, and then continued onto the adjoining Chanonry Road.
At the beginning of last month, the scheme caused traffic chaos when engineers shifted their efforts to the A96.
Some drivers have reported that getting from one side of Elgin to the other can take almost an hour at peak times.
And motorists were accused of causing delays to the scheme, by ignoring “access only” signs and attempting to use Ashgrove Road to access the A96.
Last night Elgin City South councillor, John Divers, said he still saw motorists flouting diversion signs.
He welcomed the announcement that work would soon draw to a close.
Mr Divers added: “The work on South College Street will mean that people living there may be made to park elsewhere, but it won’t cause people in general much difficulty.
“Residents will be glad to know there’s an end in sight, I’ve been stuck in some very bad traffic jams in Elgin over the past few weeks.”