HUNDREDS of strange multi-coloured markings have appeared on York’s streets in preparation for a £2.62 million overhaul of the city’s ageing traffic signals.

The markings, in colours including blue, yellow, orange, green and white, have been painted on pavements and roads near several junctions including at Walmgate Bar and at the junction of Skeldergate, Micklegate, Bridge Street and North Street.

City of York Council said they were part of initial survey work being carried out to help engineers decide what could be done to improve or alter existing traffic signals.

A spokeswoman stressed that the project was due to take up to five years and motorists should not expect to see any work imminently.

She added that the markings were only temporary and would be pressure washed away afterwards.

A previous survey has shown that some of York’s traffic signals are in poor or end-of-life condition and the council is proposing to replace approximately half of the city’s 122 traffic signals and 54 pedestrian crossings with modern equipment in a rolling programme.

Induction loop detectors, installed in the roads surface to detect vehicles at junctions, are also set to be replaced by modern video camera based systems.

The Press revealed early last year that drivers were facing needless frustrating delays at up to 30 York junctions because high-tech devices aimed at reducing congestion had fallen into disrepair.

The authority said the induction loops had mainly failed because of a general deterioration of the surfaces.

Fishergate councillor Andy D’Agorne discovered the city-wide problem after raising concerns about sensors at the junction between Fulford Road and Broadway.

He said that when sensors failed, traffic lights normally went to an automatic timing mechanism, sometimes leaving motorists and cyclists waiting unnecessarily long at red lights.

Earlier this year, it emerged that thermal imaging technology was set to help reduce the time spent by cyclists and motorists at traffic lights on key routes.

The council said it was planning to become one of first local authorities in the country to start using equipment which would accurately detect cyclists at signals by their ‘heat signature.’ It said this would allow the signals to react and be adjusted to give more ‘green time’ for cyclists and improve journey reliability and cycle safety.

The Fulford Road/Hospital Fields Road junction was to become one of the first sites to benefit from the technology.