Five weeks of roadworks as maintenance work on the A1237 bridge is due to begin

But those responsible for the freeways are doing everything they can to keep the impact on traffic as low as possible.

York City Council has announced it will be undertaking essential maintenance work on the bridges of the A1237 from Monday 29th May.

Work is being carried out on the Rawcliffe Ings Bridge over the River Ouse and the Millfield Railway Bridge over the East Coast Main Line. There will be no impact on rail traffic.

A refurbishment costing around £200,000, funded from the structures annual road budget, will involve replacing sections of bridge and replacing drainage.

To ease traffic flow, the work will be carried out at night between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., seven days a week over a period of five weeks. Weather permitting, the project is scheduled to be completed by Monday 3 July.

In order to further relieve traffic and carry out the work safely, the measure will be divided into four phases, so that the one-lane closure will only take place on shorter sections of the road.

Work will be carried out under temporary traffic signals to minimize disruption and marshals will be on site to assist pedestrians and cyclists.

Arrangements will be made throughout the day to ensure the road is fully open again but will be covered by ramps to protect the surface. For safety reasons, the speed limit at each roundabout will be reduced to 30mph for the entire duration of the work.

Rescue workers, cyclists and pedestrians have access to the plant at all times.

A spokesman for York City Council said: “As with all construction work, there is likely to be some disruption and inconvenience to the public. However, every effort is made to keep this to a minimum.”

“The Council remains committed to improving bridge crossings on the A1237 for both pedestrians and cyclists and this is part of the plan the Council has submitted to the Department for Transport.

“The work is part of a significant investment in the city over the next decade, including developments to build new housing and bring more well-paying jobs to the city.”

Residents and visitors are urged to plan ahead, which could help reduce the time they spend in traffic.

“York is one of the top cities for sustainable travel, which is central to our new mass transit strategy, as well as our recently adopted 10-year strategies on the economy, climate change and health and well-being,” added the city council spokesman.

For more information on current road works in York or notifications of road works in each area, visit the York City Council website.