Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott is hopeful of ending the West End bus crisis by the end of this week.

But today minibuses will again stand in for bus drivers who are refusing to drive to Dockyard because they say Pender Road is too narrow and dangerous.

Mr. Scott said he had met with West End Development Corporation (WEDCO) chiefs yesterday to urge them to agree to make Pender Road one-way and let east bound traffic exit Dockyard via a revamped Freeport Drive.

He said WEDCO would have to clear it with tenants and the plan would need the approval of Finance Minister Eugene Cox who is responsible for WEDCO.

Mr. Scott said Pender Road would still have to be two-way at certain times because Freeport Drive would have to be closed for security while NATO submarines were in dock.

And he said the route might also be impassable when Cable and Wireless ships were in dock and stretching cables across the road.

He said: "Hopefully we have the beginning of the end of the impasse - it will get the support of WEDCO and meet with the approval of the union.

"I think we could get a resolution this week. There's no reason why not."

He said yesterday's temporary arrangement of mini-buses worked well in shifting passengers while ferries were used to move cruise ship passengers to Watford Bridge to pick up the bus service.