DURHAM — Durham developers will have to wait six months before they hear from the county commission. Commissioners voted unanimously Monday night to slow down development along N.C. 54 and Interstate 40.

The idea of the six-month building ban is to stop new businesses from going up alongthe busy roadway. All projects that would produce more than 150 car trips per day are on hold for now.

City leaders hope to spend the time finding ways to encourage drivers to carpool and use mass transit.

The location under study includes the area around Fayetteville Road, where the much-contestedSouthpoint Mallis scheduled to go up in the early 2000s.