A TWENTY-WEEK programme of work costing nearly £2 million is due to begin on the A19 to address severe congestion.

From next month until late summer, the first phase of work will be carried out at the A19 interchange at the Designer Outlet, south of York, in a bid to solve traffic problems.

Delays are expected to be caused due to road closures as the major work gets under way, but closures will be kept to a minimum and will be restricted to off-peak times where possible, City of York Council said.

Cllr David Levene, cabinet member for transport, planning and economic development, said: “Improvements to the A19 south will benefit up to 10,000 motorists who use this route daily, with drivers saving significant time on their journeys in peak hours.

“Future phases will include some works further north on the A19 towards Fulford which will raise the A19 road level to help prevent the flooding we have seen in recent years in this area.”

The first four weeks of the work will start on April 6, and is expected to have little impact on traffic with work on lighting, drainage and the footpath.

The main work will start in early May and will include building a new inbound bus lane between the two roundabouts which will link into the existing bus lane on the A19 north of the junction. An extra traffic lane will be added to the Designer Outlet roundabout .

The second phase will begin in January 2016, and is expected to include work on the junction with Naburn Lane.

Nearly £2 million for the scheme was awarded to the council by the Department of Transport.

The funding contributes towards the cost of the £4.7 million overall project in this area which will help towards supporting local transport schemes that tackle congestion and support growth, the council said.

People can plan their journeys via the online journey planner at itravel york.info

For more information about the work, visit york.gov.uk/A19pinchpoint