YORK'S newest Park and Ride scheme is finally complete, more than a year after building work began.

City of York Council and contractors Balfour Beatty have announced roadworks on the outer ring road and A59 are officially complete, meaning the £22.7 million scheme is now finished.

Balfour Beattie's Eddie Tribe said it was with great pleasure they handed over the Poppleton and extended Askham Bar park and ride sites after 15 months of work, while the council's head of transport Tony Clarke has thanked people living nearby for their patience through the disruption.

He said: "We’d like to thank those living and working nearby for their patience throughout the period of the works, which are now complete. This was a hugely important scheme: the route is used by over 40,000 vehicles every day, making this one of the busiest junctions in York. The project will help to minimise congestion in the city and provides a much improved and safer access to local businesses on Northfield Lane.”

The Park and Ride project also saw a larger site opened at Askham Bar, and improvements to the A59 and A1237 roundabout.

The council has said the improved roundabout and new traffic signals at Northfield Lane, A59 and Station Road have already eased congestion and improved safety in the area.

Cabinet member for transports Cllr David Levene said: "The £22.7m project represents one of the largest single investments in York’s transport infrastructure since the northern ring road was built in the 80s. This has been our stated priority for the last three years and builds on our existing portfolio of Park&Rides sites. This is critical for York’s future economic prosperity and environmental wellbeing and we are delighted to be delivering this major improvement."

The Poppleton Road park and ride site has new electric buses and First Buses's Will Pearson said the end of the roadworks was great news for their customers.