DISGRUNTLED drivers and business owners have vented their frustration over roadworks taking place on the Selby bypass.

Contractors began work this week on the latest phase of the reconstruction of the A63 Selby bypass. This is the £2.8million second phase of a three-phase project and covers the stretch of the A63 between and including the A19 Brayton roundabout and A1041 Wishing Well roundabout and their approaches.

The work has been causing traffic problems, and people have shared their views on the Facebook page 'Save Our Selby! SOS'.

One person said: "It's OK for one road to be closed but more seems unreal. Great planning. Back to Goole for shopping again. Goole never have this problem."

Another Facebook user commented: "I appreciate that it has to be done and it's only temporary but someone somewhere has not thought this out properly."

However, not all the comments on the page regarding the roadworks are negative. Another person said: "Love all the negative comments regarding the Bypass road been shut in Selby. How on earth do you think the road gets repaired and relaid without closing it?"

Businesses in the town have raised their concerns about the roadworks.

Jenny Terry, co-owner of Selby Bike Centre, in Gowthorpe, said: "We had been really busy for a couple of weeks and this week it has died a death, we've had nowhere near as many people in."

"Yesterday the toll bridge was broken early in the morning. It normally takes me 20 minutes to get to work and it took me an hour and a half yesterday morning."

According to Tony Gilpin, owner of Rooms For All, in Micklegate, "anything like this affects trade."

Kelly Hamblin, manageress of Gotch's Electrical, in Micklegate, said: "We have heard a lot of people complain about it.

"Obviously it makes it hard for us delivering as we do local deliveries. It can be hard for staff to get around and to get to work."

Selby's mayor, councillor Steve Shaw-Wright, says he shares people's frustrations. He explained: "It is having a big effect.

"I hope they will be doing 24 hours work on it but it appears not. Someone rang up yesterday saying 'it is 5pm, and nobody is working on it.' I do understand, it is frustrating.

"I am as frustrated as anybody. You know it is going to happen, you just have to resign yourself to it."

Initial stages of the work included using ground radar to ascertain the location of underground services such as drainage and electrical cables. The contractor has also started planing the south lane of the A1041.

Work is due to continue on excavation of the carriageway around the Wishing Well roundabout. Preparatory work is also due to begin on the three bridges along the route. This will involve stripping the kerbs, surface and waterproofing and making any repairs to the concrete deck.

The work, which is expected to take about 12 weeks, depending on weather conditions, involves full closure of the road for the duration of the work.

North Yorkshire County Council says it is making every effort to keep traffic flowing.

A spokesperson for the council said: "Traffic management officers will continuously monitor traffic movement to minimise congestion and keep the town on the move as well as operating a 24-hour emergency system to deal with breakdowns and other incidents.

"Contractors will work on the bypass reconstruction 24 hours a day seven days a week to complete the scheme in the shortest time possible."

Two diversion routes are in place, one for local traffic and the other for heavy vehicles avoiding Selby town centre and surrounding villages.

County councillor Don Mackenzie, North Yorkshire’s executive member for highways, said: “The contractor will be working round the clock to get the work completed in the shortest possible time and in the meantime signage will make it clear that Selby remains open for business.

“We know people are concerned about the level of disruption these major works will cause, so we are doing everything we can to keep traffic flowing and heavy traffic and HGVs away from the town centre."