A64 improvements planned for the new year
A series of improvements will be taking place on a 50 mile stretch of the A64 in the new year to provide better journeys for drivers travelling between Bramham and Staxton.
Contractors for Highways England will be carrying out 8 resurfacing schemes, upgrades to 4 pedestrian and cycling routes, and 2 projects to improve white lines and reflective road studs, as well as vegetation clearance and general maintenance.
The work is due to start with replacement of the safety barriers on the bridge that runs over the River Ouse at Bishopthorpe on Monday 4 January.
Highways England service delivery team leader Roger Wantling said:
We are making a series of improvements along the A64 between Bramham and Staxton over the next few months to provide better journeys for drivers.
We plan to start with work to the bridge at Bishopthorpe on Monday 4 January, which will require some overnight closures. We understand this work will cause some disruption for drivers and would like to thank them for their patience while we carry out this work.
This is obviously dependant on the weather. Over the last few days York and the surrounding area has been hit by severe rainfall which has caused flooding locally and has affected a bridge at Tadcaster. We are monitoring this ongoing situation and will only commence with our work if we are assured that the impact on the local community is manageable with what is happening on the local authority roads. We will let people know if this does change our programme of work.
We also plan to carry out resurfacing work, replacing the white lines and reflective road studs as well as other general maintenance work along a 50 mile stretch of the A64, again this is dependent on what happens with the weather over the next couple of days. If this work continues as planned then it is due to be completed by spring.
As part of the work at Bishopthorpe the A64 will be closed in both directions for 5 nights to install narrow lanes and protective barriers as part of the Bishopthorpe bridge scheme. A 50mph speed limit will also be in place between Askham Bar and Fulford junctions, for around 3 miles during the day.
The A64 will then be closed again towards the end of February for 3 nights to remove the protective barriers. From the end of March, work will start on replacing the main expansion joint on the eastbound carriageway. This work will be carried out overnight and will require full overnight closure of the eastbound carriageway between 8pm and 6am Monday to Friday. The project is due to be completed in May.
During this work the speed limit will be reduced to 30mph on the eastbound carriageway across the bridge during the day.
Work is due to start on Monday 4 January, resurfacing the westbound carriageway from where the A64 meets the B1248 Scarborough to where it meets the A169 for Pickering for approximately a week. This work will require overnight road closures of the westbound carriageway.
Work to renew the white lines and replace reflective road studs will also start on Monday 4 January between Musley Bank to the junction of the A169 for Pickering for a week. The eastbound carriageway will be closed overnight between these junctions.
Resurfacing work is due to continue on the A64 around Tadcaster from Monday 11 January starting with resurfacing of the eastbound exit slip road at Headley Bar. The eastbound A64 will be closed overnight for two nights from Bramham to Tadcaster Ings. Once this has been completed work is planned to start on the westbound carriageway. To carry out this work the westbound carriageway will be closed between Tadcaster Bar and Headley Bar until the project is completed at the end of the month.
Work is also due to take place in January and February to resurface the eastbound entry and exit slip roads where the A64 meets the A169 for Pickering, and renew the white lines and reflective road studs at Whitwell. At the end of January resurfacing work is due to start at Ganton. This will require a full overnight closure of the A64 for around a week.
Clearly signed diversions will be in place for all road closures.
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.
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Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.