Fears 'bottlenecks' could remain as latest York Outer Ring Road plans defended
Bottlenecks could be left in York’s outer ring road under the latest plans to move forward with dualling it, opposition councillors have warned as proposals have been defended.
York Council opposition Liberal Democrat Coun Andrew Hollyer said extra traffic generated by improvements on parts of the A1237 would not stop there and questioned how the rest of it would cope.
The Haxby and Wigginton ward councillor added reassurances were needed that major bottlenecks would not be left unresolved indefinitely once work needed to progress with housing developments is completed.
Coun Claire Douglas, the council’s Labour Leader, said the latest plans for the ring road were an important first step in moving towards the overall goal of dualling it.
It comes after new plans for the project were announced on October 2.
The council backed moves to deliver the scheme in four phases in July last year after estimated costs jumped by almost £100 million.
Estimates in 2024 originally put the cost of the project, which aimed to dual the ring road from the A19 to the Little Hopgrove roundabouts, at £66.4m.
The forecast price tag stood at £164m as of October last year, in part due to inflation since the plans were approved.
New plans would see improvements along the A1237 made in four initial phases, starting with works on the A19 to Wigginton Road Roundabout, including the Clifton Moor Roundabout.
Three further phases of work would then take place from the Wigginton Road to Haxby Road roundabouts, from the latter to the Strensall Road Roundabout and from that to Little Hopgrove, including the Monks Cross Roundabout.
The plans aim to complete works needed for upcoming housing developments.
Funding is set to come from the council, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the Department of Transport.
The Government confirmed last year that £25 million it previously pledged was still earmarked for the scheme.
Efforts are set to continue to get more funding from the Government and York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority to complete the full dualling scheme.
Coun Hollyer said while works between the A19 and Wigginton Road was welcome, residents were promised full dualling of the northern Outer Ring Road.
The Liberal Democrat said: “Residents stuck in queues at the Haxby Road and Strensall Road roundabouts on the A1237 will understandably ask what this announcement delivers for them.
“Neither roundabout is included in the section being taken forward, and funding for the remaining work still has to be found.
““The council says its priority is to enable new housing developments, those homes need proper transport infrastructure, but the traffic they generate will not stop at Wigginton Road.
“How will the rest of the ring road cope if the remaining improvements never happen? Residents need reassurance that these major roundabout bottlenecks will not simply be left unresolved indefinitely.”
Coun Douglas said phasing the works to unlock housing schemes was the only way the project would happen, adding they would continue to press for further funding.
She said: “The Liberal Democrats’ unrealistic approach to major projects when in power resulted in the council entering into reckless contracts, which is why we have huge problems now with the schemes they initiated.
“They also completely ignore the benefits for bus and cycle travel that will be unlocked by this first phase of the scheme, ensuring that residents moving into York’s new developments have excellent bus and cycle links and are not solely dependent on the car to get around, freeing up road space for those that need it.
“This delivery plan shows the current Labour administration is the first to begin turning a decades-long vision into reality.”