Disruption fears as latest phase of £2.6m traffic scheme begins

MOTORISTS HAVE been warned to expect major disruption when the latest phase of a £2.6m programme to tackle congestion and improve road safety gets under way in York.

The scheme to upgrade traffic signals at one of the city’s busiest junctions will begin next month, and is expected to take up to nine weeks to complete.

As well as replacing the traffic signal equipment at the Lendal Arch gyratory, which includes the junctions of Station Road, Station Avenue, Station Rise, Rougier Street and Lendal Bridge, pavements will be widened to improve safety for the thousands of pedestrians who use the crossings every day.

York Council’s executive member for transport and planning Coun Ian Gillies said: “These essential works continue our traffic signal renewal programme which ensures that signals at key junctions across the city are up to standard and working effectively.

“This is one of York’s busiest junctions and the work will bring it up to modern standards and ensure that traffic can continue to be well managed on the inner ring road.”

Work is due to begin on January 22, and will be carried out from 8am to 6pm seven days a week. It is due to last nine weeks, unless there are delays caused by poor weather.

A council spokesman said: “While everything reasonably possible is being done to keep this disruption to a minimum, motorists should expect delays. We are advising motorists who regularly travel through this location to plan an alternative route where possible.”

A five-year programme to renew York’s traffic lights at a cost of £2.62m was given the go-ahead by the council in 2015.