(Image: City of York Council)
A BUSY pedestrian crossing is set for a major upgrade as part of a city-wide signal renewal scheme.
City of York Council will begin improvement work on Heworth Green, near Dodsworth Avenue and Mill Lane, on Monday (October 5).
The project is part of the council's Traffic Signal Asset Renewal (TSAR) programme and is expected to take four weeks to complete.
Councillor Kate Ravilious, executive member for transport at City of York Council, said: "This project at Heworth Green is the latest project designed to create safer crossing points and improve accessibility and the use of junctions for all road users.
"We know that these projects, alongside many others across a busy city, do cause disruption and we are grateful to everyone for their patience while we get this important work done.
"The installation of the new traffic signals on Heworth Green will allow us to programme the lights more effectively, ensuring pedestrians don’t have to wait as long to cross the road.
"We are doing all that we can to minimise disruption, sharing this information early and sending letters to local residents and businesses.
"Local businesses are open throughout the works."
The scheme involves replacing the existing traffic signals and upgrading pedestrian crossing equipment to support Puffin-style crossings with red and green man displays on both sides of the road.
Plans also include widening the central island to improve safety and comfort for pedestrians, making minor alterations to the tactile paving, resurfacing sections of the footpath, and making small improvements to the cycle exit from Mill Lane.
Work will take place from 8am to 5pm, seven days a week, and will also involve resurfacing the carriageway around the crossing, pending formal road closure approval.
To ensure the work is carried out safely, temporary traffic lights will be installed at the junction of Heworth Green and Dodsworth Avenue.
The road will remain open, but drivers are advised to allow extra time for their journeys, especially during peak periods.
Additional temporary restrictions will be in place throughout the project, including the closure of Mill Lane onto Heworth Green, with a signed diversion route provided, and the closure of the loading bay outside 50 to 52 Heworth Green.
A spokesperson for City of York Council said: "We know that the existing crossing is an important point for many pedestrians and mobility aid users, and a temporary controlled crossing will be provided during construction to allow pedestrians to cross the road safely."
The council’s in-house team will carry out the ground works, while specialist contractor Swarco will handle the traffic signal elements of the project.
Pedestrian routes in the area will be temporarily closed and diverted as needed to maintain safety.
Emergency services will have access through the works at all times.
The TSAR programme was approved in November 2015 and sets out a long-term plan to renew ageing traffic signal infrastructure across York.
Recent projects completed under the scheme include upgrades on Bishopthorpe Road and Foss Islands Road.
The new signals are designed to be more cost-effective and reliable than older systems, while also allowing for improved traffic management during busy travel periods.
Further information about the planned improvements is available at york.gov.uk/HeworthGreenCrossingImprovements.
Residents can also sign up for roadworks alerts and find details of other planned highways works at york.gov.uk/roadworks and york.gov.uk/PlannedHighwaysWorks.
Enquiries about the Heworth Green project can be directed to tsar@york.gov.uk.