Micklegate Bar has reopened to eastbound traffic. All lanes are now open on Blossom Street.
According to Council sources the contractor responsible for removing the temporary road closure signs did not act promptly to remove them when the gas main replacement work was completed.
We think that the Council could have done much better in keeping users updated on the reasons for the delays.
Further down Tadcaster Road, the gas main replacement works are still behind schedule, but there is one piece of good news.
It appears that there will be no total closure of St Helens Roadwhen the works reach that junction. Instead 3 way temporary traffic lights will be used.
It remains unclear when this part of the project will actually start.
Micklegate Bar and Blossom Street lane closures still in place
Work on replacing gas mains on Blossom Street and next to Micklegate Bar were completed 2 weeks ago it has emerged today.
Micklegate Bar was due to reopen to traffic today and the two lane closures on Blossom Street were also due to end.
Sources at Gas Networks are now suggesting that the closures could remain in place for another 3 weeks as the York Council is apparently struggling to coordinate carriageway resurfacing works.
An expected closure for further gas main replacement works on St Helens Road was due to start today, necessitating a bus route diversion. There is no sign of such a closure which was originally scheduled to start two weeks ago.
No updates have been issued on social media by either the Council or Gas Networks.
The Council has not issued any information to the media and both the road closure listand map showing current roadworkshave not been updated.
The road network is expected to become gradually busier as the lockdown restrictions are eased. The restricted lane widths on Blossom Street represent a particular hazard for cyclists.
Good to see that two way cycle access through Micklegate Bar has been restored.
May owe something to todays gales which have blown over the guard rails!
The expectation is that carriageway resurfacing here and on Blossom Street will be concluded over the weekend with normal working restored for all traffic on Monday.
According to the Council web siteworks on replacing gas mains in Micklegate and Blossom Street are due to be completed today (26th February 2021).
Works in St Helens Road are due to start on Monday
The restrictions at Micklegate Bar have been awkward for pedestrians and cyclists, while other vehicles have been banned from using the route altogether.
Some attempt has recently been made to allow for cycle movements to be restored through the Bar.
Yesterday there still appeared to be a lot of work remaining to be completed.
The work to replace the gas main near the junction of Blossom Street and Holgate Road were completed on schedule. Traffic has been flowing easily this weekend.
Blossom Street road works have been completed
However further road works on Nunnery Lane (and Tadcaster Road) are starting in June prompting calls for the trial lane closure on Bishopthorpe Road to be terminated.
The closure, ostensibly to free space for “social distancing, has prompted opposition from residents who point to higher pollution levels on alternative routes, cyclists who feel their “contraflow” route is unsafe and motorists who have been facing a 1 mile detour plus higher journey times.
Bishopthorpe Road lane closure. Petition calls for lane to be reopened.
Bollards placed along the edge of the footpath have actually made social distancing for pedestrians more difficult in places.
Lack of consultation with residents has been highlighted as a major concern, while the decision to coincide the closure with road works taking place on the detour route caused particular anger.
The scheme has led to a petition being gathered which calls for the scheme to be abandoned. It has already gained 900 signatures.
Some commentators have said that the impulsive decision may put the case for creating a part time foot street at the Bishopthorpe Road shops back by a decade or longer.
Unlawful Lendal Bridge closure cost Council £millions in compensation payments
Public antipathy had a similar effect following the failed Lendal Bridge closure 4 years ago.
The Council persisted with that project long after it became clear that it was ill judged and, indeed, ultimately proved to be unlawful.
Traffic queues are lengthening on Blossom Street and Nunnery Lane as we begin the first tea time “rush hour” since lock-down restrictions were eased.
Congestion at 5:00pm 13th May 2020
The traffic is tailed back from the British Gas roadworks near the Holgate Road junction.
The Council said they would suspend the road closure on Bishopthorpe Road until the gas main replacement works were completed later in the week. This doesn’t seem to have happened, even when the shops on Bishopthorpe Road are closed.
Most other roads in the City currently have low congestion levels.
Congestion is expected to grow as more people return to work and take government advice to avoid the use of public transport.
Ageing and outdated traffic signals on the Blossom Street pedestrian crossing are set to be replaced this month by City of York Council.
Works will start on Sunday 30 June and are estimated to finish on Thursday 11 July.
Blossom Street
New, more reliable, traffic signals will be installed and improvements will be made to the pedestrian crossing outside the cinema too.
The new technology being installed will help to improve journey times and reliability on Blossom Street and ease congestion in the area.
The new traffic signals will also be cheaper to run and more reliable. It will also enable the new systems to link direct to the council’s Traffic and Control Centre, so that the Network Monitoring Officers can manage the flow of traffic better in busy periods by adjusting traffic lights to best suit traffic conditions.
To help minimise disruption work will be carried out from 9.30am – 4pm during the week and also will take place on Saturdays and Sundays from 8am – 4pm. Temporary signals replicating, as closely as possible, the current operation of the junction will be in place throughout the works.
To allow for the works to be undertaken safely it will be necessary, at certain times, to close lanes. This will only be undertaken outside the peak periods to limit traffic disruption and delay.
During the works it is anticipated that there will be significant delays when travelling through the junction.
A temporary signalised crossing will be provided during construction to allow pedestrians to cross the road safely. Pedestrian route, cycle routes and access to all businesses and properties will be retained throughout the duration of the works.
Those using the route are urged to plan ahead, allow more time for journeys on these routes and to consider alternatives and to use public transport where possible. Bus services will be operating as normal for the majority of the works but passengers are requested to visit www.itravelyork.info/for more information.
Officers are appealing for information to help find a black Nissan after it was involved in a collision in Blossom Street in York.
The incident happened at midday today, Tuesday 21 March 2017, when the driver of a black Nissan failed to stop after colliding with a male pedestrian.
The man suffered serious, but not believed to be life threatening, injuries and was taken to hospital by road ambulance.
Anyone who witnessed the collision, or has seen a black Nissan in the area which looks damaged, is asked to contact police. Dial 101, press 1 and pass information to the Force Control Room.
Please quote reference number NYP-21032017-0165 when passing on any information.
