HIGHWAYS bosses have confirmed they are studying the feasibility of an upgrade of the A64 east of York’s Hopgrove roundabout.

Mandy Foster, asset manager for the Highways Agency, told North Yorkshire County Council’s Ryedale area committee that it was also planning substantial roadworks on the route over the remaining six months of the current financial year.

She said the programme would resume in late September and deliver nine resurfacing schemes costing £3 million and four road marking renewal schemes at a cost of £675,000.

There would also be £300,000 worth of sign renewals and a new pedestrian refuge at Ganton.

She added: “We aim to minimise disruption to drivers and communities affected by these works as far as possible, however there will be unavoidable closures and diversions.”

Meanwhile, statistics released by the agency have revealed that the number of accidents on the A64 in Ryedale has fallen over the past decade. Fatal, serious and slight accidents has declined over the past decade from 58 in 2003 to just under 32 in 2013.