A MAJOR road junction near York is in line for an upgrade, thanks to extra government money for the county council.

North Yorkshire County Council has an extra £5.1m to spend this year on roads schemes to support the economic growth, thanks to a grant from the Government’s £185 million National Productivity Investment Fund.

The A1 (M)/ A59 junction will benefit with £1.2 million going towards a £3.5 million scheme to put in traffic signals on all approaches to the junction, widen slip roads, and put traffic signal controls at the adjacent A59/ A168 junction.

Barrie Mason, the county council’s assistant director, highways and transportation, said they had spoken to district and borough councils before drawing up plans.

“The draft programme compiled following this process will meet the Government’s requirements to ease congestion and upgrade important roads, unlock job creation opportunities and enable the delivery of vital housing development,” he added.

The money must go on transport schemes that can boost productivity, transport, digital communications, research and development or housing. It also comes on top of the County Council’s annual £65m spend on managing, maintaining and improving roads.

Elsewhere in the county money is going on improvements in Scarborough town centre and resurfacing on the North Bay promenade, and congestion and air quality improvements at a pollution blackspot in Knaresborough.

In Ryedale £475,000 is being spent on improvements at Ing Lane, Kirkbymoorside, to help two advanced engineering companies based there with better access, and help create new jobs.