WORK to tame an accident blackspot between York and Selby has been delayed for a third time.

The £1.8 million project, which was set to start this week, will see a three-lane, 70-metre roundabout built at the junction of the A19 and the A63 near Barlby.

Two lanes will filter from the A63 and three from the A19 in both directions, in an effort to slow motorists down and improve road safety.

The North Yorkshire County Council website suggested the roadworks were due to start today, but it has been put back until next month and will run well into the summer, with traffic diverted and long delays.

A council spokesman said: “It was originally hoped last year that we would be in a position to start the work on January 7.

“However, the legal process surrounding land acquisition proved to be much more complex than anticipated, with the result that the tenders for the work have only just been returned.

“The pre-works on the contract will now begin on February 4, and we expect to be on site for the beginning of the main contract on February 18.

“The contract is scheduled for completion in 22 weeks.”

Last year, a teenage moped rider had to be taken to hospital after a collision with a car at the junction, and there have been a number of serious accidents there since it was built by the Highways Agency in 1987, leading to repeated calls for safety improvements at the scene.

Responsibility for the road was given to the county council in 2009, but the proposal for the roundabout and other traffic measures were first mooted by the local authority as far back as 2007.

A study carried out by the council showed more than 17,200 vehicles used the A19 on an average weekday, with up to 750 vehicles an hour in the morning rush hour and 901 heading towards Selby at about 4pm.