Options revealed for biggest city road system overhaul in decade

Plans have been drawn up by York Council to improve the historic approach to Micklegate Bar, which dates from the Roman era and is used by up to 17,000 drivers every day.

It is hoped that the chosen scheme, costing up to 575,000, will help promote public transport while making one of the main routes into the city safer for both cyclists and pedestrians.

The stretch of road has seen 25 accidents in the last three years, three of the crashes leading to serious injuries.

A public consultation exercise is being launched, details of three proposed schemes being sent out to York's 90,000 households to glean residents' opinions about which option should be pursued.

The council's executive member for city strategy, Coun Steve Galloway, admitted yesterday that the improvements would prove unpopular with motorists as they would actually mean longer journey times into the city centre.

Drivers face up to an extra 12 minutes on the current 20-minute journey at peak times from the outskirts of York at Askham Bar into the city centre as cycle lanes are due to be introduced and traffic signals overhauled.

But Coun Galloway stressed that the scheme was vital to prevent more traffic congestion in the future as the council looks to reduce the number of vehicles on the roads by encouraging the use of public transport.

He said: "You cannot live in or near York without using the Blossom Street junction at some point, and most people will go through it at least once a week.

"I cannot stress how important it is to find a solution to deal with the safety and congestion issues.

"I personally think that doing nothing is not an option, as this is one of the main routes into York and we need to deal with the number of vehicles on the city's roads.

"I am aware that the options which are available might not be popular with all motorists, but traffic volumes are increasing and we need to do all we can to ease congestion in York."

A consultation last year revealed that the public felt that the junction at Blossom Street was one of the most dangerous in the city for cyclists.

The three options which have been drawn up will all see improvements made to junctions and pedestrian crossings on the stretch from Holgate Road to Micklegate Bar.

A second scheme costing 500,000 would see a cycle lane introduced on the road leading into the city, although this would be at expense of one of the traffic lanes at the Blossom Street junction.

The third option, which would cost 575,000, would see cycle lanes introduced on both sides of the road, and staggered pedestrian crossings created.

The council is also looking to develop a new route from Holgate Road, into York Railway Station and beyond, via Lowther Terrace and the station car park.

The new access would provide cyclists and pedestrians with an alternative route to the station, without having to use Blossom Street.

The scheme could start early next year, with work carried out overnight to minimise disruption. Funding will be provided by cash from the local transport plan and a grant from the 3.6m Cycling City project.

York was one of 12 locations in the UK to be awarded Cycling Town or City status in 2008 under the Government's 94m national scheme.

Details of the public consultation are available on the council's website at www.york.gov.uk/blossomstreet, and responses must be received ahead of a deadline on Friday, March 26.