So which roads and paths will be resurfaced this year in York?

Highways programme published

Tadcaster Road will be resurfaced

Somewhat later this year, the York Council has published its highways maintenance programme. The list reveals that the Council has cut its repairs budget by £100,000 compared to last year.

In total the Council will invest £12.3 million this year.

Not all will be spent on roads and paths as the budget also covers repairs to the City Walls (£626,000), replacement street lighting columns (£578,000) and drainage/gulley works (£1.7 million).

Most of the budget has been allocated to structural maintenance works.

£700,000 will be spent just filling in potholes as they appear.

The report gives no details of how the £500,000 repairs budget, delegated to wards last year,  is being spent.

The details of the allocations – and which streets are affected – can be viewed via these links

Footpaths

Major carriageway works

Patching

School Street misses out on the resurfacing list again

The programme is likely to disappoint some residents. They may have hoped that the new Council would get to grips with the, now huge, backlog in highway resurfacing work needed in the City.

But it seems that many residential roads and paths will not get the attention that they need.

In the Westfield ward only two streets will be resurfaced. A second section of Gale Lane will  be resurfaced as will the roundabout at the junction of Askham Lane and Ridgeway.

Badly worn footpaths like this on the odd numbered side of Askham Lane, in Walton Place, on Ridgeway, and on Otterwood Lane, together with the carriageways on Foxwood Lane and School Street, don’t get a mention.

Another hazardous road that didn’t make the cut

There is better news in Dringhouses with a large £1/2 million allocation is included for the resurfacing of Tadcaster Road while several streets in Woodthorpe* will be repaired. Work has already started on resurfacing part of Moor Lane.

The budget allocation predated the current health crisis. Like most of the Council’s expenditure commitments it is likely to be subject to review in the light of falling revenues.

Paradoxically, the current crisis has served to re-emphasise the importance of keeping basic highway surfaces in a condition which does not pose a threat to the safety of vulnerable users like pedestrians and cyclists.

We will be pressing for the details of the “ward resurfacing programme” to be released for scrutiny.

  • Streets identified for “micro patching” include; Lowick (£8,700), Troutbeck (£7,000), Woodthorpe School Entrance (£2,400), Overdale (£6,200), Glenridding (£15,000), Windermere (£6,200), Brambledene (£27,000), Dringfield Close (£6,500), Wains Road (£40,000), &
    Lockwood Street (£6,000)

Road repairs let down in York

The York Council has announced that 3 carriageways in the City will be resurfaced starting next week.

They are;

  • *Moor Lane: initial works will take place on Tuesday 28 April, between 6pm to 9pm, weather permitting. The works will consist of removing all existing road studs in preparation for resurfacing works. The resurfacing works will take place on Sunday 3 May between 9.30am to 11am.
  • A1237 – A59 roundabout to B1224 roundabout: initial works will take place on Tuesday 28 April, between 7pm to 9pm, weather permitting. The works will consist of removing all existing road studs in preparation for resurfacing works. The resurfacing works will take place on Sunday 3 May 2pm to 4.30pm.
  • Wigginton Road (section 1) – Railway line to A1237: The resurfacing works will take place on Sunday 3 May between 7am and 9am.

The Council has still not announced its full highways repair programme for the forthcoming 11 months.  The Council is now in breach of its own code of conduct. It recently agreed click to make available programme and performance information in a transparent way.

While the current health crisis may have delayed some aspects of the Councils work, there is no excuse for the lack of any communication with stakeholders.

Last year the programme was published in March although those documents have still not been listed on the  Councils Open Data site (which includes only the 2018 list).

The Council has also removed programme details from its – constantly updated – GIS mapping system.

At the same time the Council’s “report it on line” system is proving to be unreliable. Intermittently it is preventing a “flag” being dropped onto its GIS map indicating the location of potholes and, health related, cleansing issues. The issue is being followed up by a local Councillor. It is important to restrict the use of alternative communication channels – such as telephone and email – as Council resources need to be concentrated on the coronavirus response.

An FOI will be submitted to obtain the highways list. It would be better if officials/Councillors simply offered a progress report.

*Assumed to be Moor Lane Dringhouses

Traffic signals to be upgraded on Holgate road junction

Works will start on Monday 24 February and are expected to be fully completed by Thursday 12 March, working between 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday and 8am and 4pm at weekends.

The scheme at the junction will include replacing outdated traffic (pedestrian crossing) signals with new, more reliable ones and installing a new puffin style pedestrian crossing.

The five year traffic signal asset renewal programme was given the green light by the council in November 2015 at a public meeting.

The total replacement programme will cost £2.620m over six years and will be funded through the capital programme budget and the existing Local Transport Plan budget.

Residents are urged to plan ahead, allow more time for their journeys on these routes and to consider alternatives and to use public transport where possible.

To allow for the works to be undertaken safely it will be necessary to close a lane and operate temporary traffic signals during part of the work. This also means that Watson Street will be under signal control also.

A controlled crossing will be provided during construction to allow pedestrians to cross the road safely.

Pedestrian routes and access to all businesses and properties will be retained throughout the duration of the works.  It will be necessary to temporarily close footways in the works area at certain times during the works and footway diversion routes will be put in place.

Although every attempt will be made to keep delays to a minimum, motorists are expected to experience delays while the works are underway  Those using the junction are urged to plan ahead, allow more time for journeys on these routes and to consider alternatives and to use public transport where possible.

For any enquiries regarding these works please email: tsar@york.gov.uk

Stonegate carriageway repaving work will last for 4 months.

£500,000 scheme takes up significant proportion of this years highways resurfacing budget

Stonegate

For the first time in a generation, City of York Council is completely repaving Stonegate.

Over the years the council has replaced damaged or worn paving stones but is now investing around £500,000 to fully repave the entire length of Stonegate, with natural Yorkstone paving and concrete foundations.

Over time there has been significant defects in the surface of the road, where paving slabs are broken and uneven, which make it unsafe for pedestrians.

The scheme will enhance the street’s appearance and character, creating a more pedestrian-friendly environment, attracting more people into the area and improving access for pedestrians.

The works will be split into four phases with each phase taking around four weeks to complete and will start from Monday 6 January until Friday 3 April.

It’s estimated that a scheme of this size would normally take around four months to complete. The council will aim to do as much work as possible (weather permitting) before the Easter break, when work will stop.

Over 20 retailers and businesses fed back at a session in November to say they would prefer the council to carry out this scheme in the quieter months of January to March.

This feedback has all been taken on board and works will stop before the Easter holidays start and the council will come back in early 2021 to fully complete the scheme (around an additional four weeks) – if the council is unable to complete the works beforehand.

Cllr Andy D’Agorne, Executive Member for Transport, said: “Stonegate is steeped in history and was one of the first paved-roads in York, which was a direct route to transport the Minster stone whist it was being built. It’s one of the most loved streets in our city centre so this investment will ensure the street keeps its special character.”

Although loved for its paving, Stonegate wasn’t always a paved-road. Photographs sourced from the Explore York Archives show Stonegate’s surface was made up of sets/cobbles in the 1890s and in the 1940s was a tarmac surface.

The high cost of resurfacing this, relatively modest, length of road highlights just how inadequate the Councils highway maintenance budgets are.

Stonegate resurfacing – Frequently asked questions

Gale Lane resurfacing works from 18th November with road closure. Bus services affected

Foss Bank affected next week

City of York Council will be carrying out resurfacing works on:

  • Foss Bank from Monday 4 November between 7.30pm till 5am working Monday to Friday
  • Gale Lane from on Monday 18 November between 9.15am till 5pm working Monday to Friday

Foss Bank: In order to carry out these works safely the use of a temporary road closure from the roundabout at Heworth Green to just past Sainsbury’s entrance will be necessary whilst works are taking place.

A clearly signed diversion route will be set out for through traffic. Buses will be diverted during working hours. The diversion for bus service 14 will be Heworth Green, Eboracum Way and Layerthorpe.

Site staff will be on hand to advise and assist residents about the access restrictions once the works are ongoing.

Any specific access requirements may be arranged by speaking to the onsite staff who will co-ordinate with residents and business requirements around ongoing construction operations.

There will be no access to Sainsbury’s from Foss Bank during the works period. However, customers will be able to access Sainsbury’s from Jewbury.

Gale Lane: A temporary road closure from the mini-roundabout at Cornlands Road to, and including, the junction of St Stephen’s Road will be necessary whilst works are taking place.

Buses will be diverted during working hours. This includes a diversion for bus service 4 – at southern end of Green Lane, turn around roundabout and return through Acomb via Green Lane, Front St, Gale Lane, resuming normal route at Cornlands Rd.

Service 24 – from Ascot Way terminus via Kingsway West, Danesford Ave, Stuart Rd, Tudor Rd, Green Lane, Front St, Gale Lane, Cornlands Rd resuming normal route halfway along Cornlands Rd.

Emergency services will be permitted through at all times. Cyclists will have to dismount and use the footways.

As with any construction work, there is likely to be a certain amount of disruption and inconvenience to the public, however everything will be done to keep any disruption to a minimum.

For more information on roadworks in York, visit www.york.gov.uk/roadworks

For travel information and advice visit www.itravelyork.info

Resurfacing works on Burton Stone Lane and Towthorpe Road

City of York Council will carry out resurfacing works on Towthorpe Road and Burton Stone Lane from next week.

The works on Burton Stone Lane will take place from Monday 14 October for approximately four weeks. This will include the junction of Crichton Avenue up to the junction of Burton Green.

The works will take place during the daytime between 8am and 6pm. In order to carry out the works safely, the use of a temporary road closure from the junction of Crichton Avenue to the junction of Burton Green will be necessary.

This road closure will remain in operation 24/7 until works are complete. All onsite parking will be suspended during this period.

Works will be carried out in short sections on a rolling process to minimise disruption to residents. Where works are taking place across junctions, into cul-de-sacs, works will be carried out in in two sections to let residents in and out. Please be advised that there will be periods where no access in or out will be allowed.

The works on Towthorpe Road will start on Monday 7 October and will take up to five days (weather permitting). These will include resurfacing the road and the reinstatement of all road markings and will be carried out between 9.15am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

In order to carry out these works safely the use of a temporary road closure from the junction of Mallard Way to a point 50m north of West Nooks junction will be necessary whilst works are taking place.

A clearly signed diversion route will be set out for through traffic. Site staff will be on hand to advise and assist residents about the access restrictions once the works are ongoing.

All on street parking will be suspended at these times but any specific access requirements maybe arranged by speaking to the site traffic management operatives who will co-ordinate with residents and business requirements around ongoing construction operations.

Any vehicle remaining on the street during the suspension time may be liable to a parking fine and removal costs.   

Household waste and recycling collections will take place before 9.15am so please have all containers and bins out by 7am on the day of collection. Buses will be diverted during working hours via Station Road and Calf Close.

In addition to the above, the council will be carrying out kerbing and drainage works on 30 September for a period of 5 days working 9.15am and 5pm Monday to Friday. These works will be carried out under local traffic management, will not affect access and the road will be open as normal.

For both schemes, emergency services will be permitted through the works at all times. Cyclists will have to dismount and use the footways.

As with any construction work, there is likely to be a certain amount of disruption and inconvenience to the public, however the council will try at all times to keep any disruption to a minimum.

For more information about roadworks in York visit: www.york.gov.uk/roadworks

More disruption on Bishopthorpe Road as resurfacing works start

City of York Council will be carrying out overnight roadworks to resurface Bishopthorpe Road over two stages.

The first stage will take place over four nights between 30 September and 4 October. The second stage will take place over four nights between 15 October and 19 October (weather permitting) between 7pm till 5am.

For the overnight works on 30 September, crews will be resurfacing of the Bishopthorpe Road / Scarcroft Road junction.

This is following the completion of the junction improvement scheme to replace all the ageing traffic signal equipment, create a new pedestrian crossing, remove the small central triangular island on Bishopthorpe Road and widen/resurface the footway. Find out more about this scheme here: www.york.gov.uk/BishyRd

For the overnight works from 15 October, a temporary road closure from Church Lane to Middlethorpe Hall Hotel will be necessary whilst works are taking place, in order to carry out these works safely.

During this time there will be no access to or from the car park.

A clearly signed diversion route will be set out for through traffic. All on street parking will be suspended at these times but any specific access requirements may be arranged. Any vehicle remaining on the street during the suspension time may be liable to a parking fine and removal costs.   

Household waste and recycling collections will take place as normal.

Bus Service 11 will to divert via Tadcaster Road, Sim Balk Lane, Main Street, resuming normal route at Acaster Lane. Returning to York it would turn left from Appleton Road into Sim Balk Lane rather than continuing along Main St.

In addition to the above, the council will be carrying out kerbing and drainage works on 9 to 11 October working 9.15am – 4pm. These works will be carried out under local traffic management and will not affect access on this road, which will be open as normal.

Emergency services will be permitted through the works at all times. Cyclists will have to dismount and use the footways.

As with any construction work, there is likely to be a certain amount of disruption and inconvenience to the public, however the council will try at all times to keep any disruption to a minimum.

For more information about roadworks in York visit: www.york.gov.uk/roadworks

Resurfacing works on Hawthorn Grove and Mill Lane in Heworth

City of York Council will carry out resurfacing works on Hawthorn Grove and Mill Lane between Monday 16 and Friday 27 September.

The works on Hawthorne Grove will take place between Monday 16 to Friday 20 September, between 7.30pm and 5am.

This will require a road closure from, and including, the mini-roundabout at Harcourt Street up to, but not including, the Eboracum Way junction. Mill Lane will also be closed but residents’ access will be maintained via Heworth Green.

The works on Mill Lane will be carried out between Monday 23 and Friday 27 September between 8am and 5pm. There will be a road closure from Heworth Green up to, but not including, the mini-roundabout at Harcourt Street.

The works will consist of resurfacing the road and the reinstatement of all road markings. In order to carry out these works safely the use of temporary road closures will be necessary whilst works are taking place. A clearly signed diversion route will be set out for all traffic.

All on street parking will be suspended at these times but any specific access requirements may be arranged by speaking to the site traffic management operativesm who will co-ordinate with residents and business requirements around ongoing construction operations.

Any vehicle remaining on the street during the suspension time may be liable to a parking fine and removal costs.

Household waste and recycling collections will take place as normal. For Mill Lane, residents are asked to ensure bins are placed on the kerbside by 7am on the day of collection.

During the closure of Hawthorn Grove, bus service 6 will be diverted via Eboracum Way, Heworth Green, Heworth Road, and Melrosegate (not serving Fifth Ave or Fourth Ave). Coastliner will be diverted via Eboracum Way, Heworth Green (not serving East Parade or Heworth Road).

In addition to the above, the council will be carrying out kerbing and drainage works between Monday 9 and 13 September on Hawthorn Grove working 9.15am – 4pm and also on Mill Lane on Monday 16 to Saturday 21 September working 9.15am – 4pm.

During these works the road will be open as normal to travel through, but all on street parking will need to be suspended during these times.

Emergency services will be permitted through the works at all times. Cyclists will have to dismount and use the footways.

As with any construction work, there is likely to be a certain amount of disruption and inconvenience to the public, however the council will try at all times to keep any disruption to a minimum.

For more information about roadworks in York visit: www.york.gov.uk/roadworks

More traffic congestion expected.

Coppergate one way traffic restrictions in place from Sunday, for up to 8 weeks

One way traffic restrictions will be put in place on Coppergate, located in the city centre of York, for up to 8 weeks from this Sunday (1 September).

This is in order for the owner of a privately owned property to carry out maintenance works on Coppergate.

These works require scaffolding and due to the narrow width of footpath and carriageway in that location, City of York Council is required to put a one way traffic system in place for the duration of the works.

From Sunday 1 September vehicles (with the exception of cyclists) will only be able to travel on Coppergate one way westbound with diversions for eastbound traffic via Tower Street and Piccadilly.

There will be a lane set out for cyclists at the Piccadilly end of Coppergate at the signals.

All eastbound bus routes which normally use Coppergate will divert via Clifford Street, Tower Street and Piccadilly.

Delays are expected at peak times, so please allow extra time for your journey. Visit www.itravelyork.info for more information about bus journeys.

The restrictions have been planned to be put in place for up to 8 weeks, although the works are likely to be removed earlier if the works are completed. 

For more information about roadworks in York, visit www.york.gov.uk/roadworks