£420,000 overhaul will ease congestion on busy city road

A MAJOR overhaul of one of the busiest stretches of road in York is expected to be completed by the end of the year as the £420,000 scheme is due to be given the go-ahead next week.

A series of options for the biggest overhaul of the city's congested road network in the past decade were unveiled in January.

Plans have now been finalised 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, and are due to be approved on Tuesday next week.

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A public consultation generated more than 5,250 responses and York Council's officers have now incorporated the preferred options for the overhaul of the Blossom Street junction. The stretch of road has seen 25 accidents in the past three years, three of the crashes leading to serious injuries.

The council's executive member for city strategy, Steve Galloway, who is due to approve the plans next week, said: "There have been a lot of accidents and if we can prevent just a few, then it will be money well invested.

"The consultation generated a lot of responses, and we have taken on board the public's views for the final plans."

The existing number of traffic lanes in Blossom Street will be maintained, although cycle feeder lanes will be introduced to help cyclists get to the front of queuing vehicles.

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A new pedestrian crossing is planned between St Mary's Convent and the Windmill public house, while the existing crossings will be straightened out and converted into single-stage crossings.

The bus layby outside the Reel cinema is being extended, and a new route for pedestrians and cyclists through to the railway station is to be created.

Traffic signalling will also be overhauled to benefit cyclists, and the position of existing traffic lanes will be changed to help articulated vehicles negotiate the junction.

Work is expected to start in the late summer and it is hoped that the improvements will be completed by the end of the year.

Coun Galloway admitted that there would be some disruption, but he stressed that the chosen scheme is not as extensive as some of the options in the public consultation.

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