The controversial M4 bus lane, introduced by former transport secretary John Prescott in 1999, is to be scrapped.
The transport secretary, Philip Hammond, will announce on Monday that the oft-derided 3.5-mile-long lane on a London-bound section of the M4 will be suspended from 24 December this year until the London Olympics in July 2012.
Hammond is expected to announce that thereafter it will be scrapped permanently.
The lane has been repeatedly criticised, perhaps most prominently by the motoring enthusiast Jeremy Clarkson, who reasoned that he would "vote for anyone who promised to tear up that stupid pinko bus lane".
Hammond will use his speech to the Conservative party conference to make the announcement.
"Nothing is more symbolic of Labour's war on the motorist than the M4 bus lane," Hammond will say. "It was John Prescott's idea and I think that says it all.
"I can announce today that from the end of December until the Olympics the M4 bus lane will be suspended. And once the Olympics are over, my intention is to scrap it permanently."
The director of the RAC Foundation, Stephen Glaister, said he backed the move.
"Most drivers on the M4 will wonder why this decision has taken so long. Road capacity is in short supply and to have an under-used lane like this has made little sense.
"While other motorways have been widened to allow for the growth in traffic, on this stretch of the M4 capacity was actually being reduced."
Friends of the Earth's London campaigner, Jenny Bates, said scrapping the lane would encourage more traffic on to the M4.
"This will threaten to raise emissions and air pollution when London is not on track to meet its target for tackling climate change nor for bringing air pollution within legal EU limits," she said.
