A KEY section of York’s inner ring road is to close for up to a fortnight, forcing motorists and buses to take a lengthy diversion.

Gillygate will shut on April 24 so Yorkshire Water contractors can carry out improvements to a water main - just eight months after the road closed to allow for emergency sewer repairs by the same company.

York Press:

Cars and buses heading, for example, to York Hospital from the city centre will face a detour via Bootham, Clifton, Water Lane, Burdyke Avenue, Crichton Avenue, Wigginton Road and Clarence Street, and vice versa, said a council highways officer.

Yorkshire Water project manager Dave Standish said: “We’re aware of the impact these essential improvements will have with regards to traffic and we’d urge people to bear with us whilst we carry out this important work.”

A spokesman said a three inch water main, originally laid in 1910, needed to be dug down to and relined to improve the taste and appearance of drinking water in the area.

“The work is being undertaken by Yorkshire Water’s service partner Morison Utility Services (MUS) following several customers reporting discoloured water issues,” he said.

“To ensure the work is done as swiftly as possible, MUS will be working Monday to Sunday 7am to 7pm throughout the project.

“Homes and businesses operating on Gillygate have each been sent a letter to make them aware of the planned works. All businesses within the closure will be visited by MUS staff too.”

He said Yorkshire Water had a duty to ensure it could continue to provide the best possible drinking water to its customers.

“We want to assure you that we’ll do everything we can to complete this work as quickly as possible and keep disruption to a minimum,” he said.

“Businesses are open as usual and we ask that you continue to support them during this time.”

The spokesman said access would be maintained for emergency services, with ambulances allowed through to get to York Hospital, and pedestrian access would be maintained at all times.

He said the work could not have been carried out at the same time as the emergency repairs to a collapsed sewer last summer, which were needed after a hole appeared in the carriageway and led to closure.

Gillygate traders yesterday welcomed the closure. Charlie Bridge, of Fairer World, said: “I would be happy for the road to be closed permanently, apart from buses and bikes, because of pollution levels and noise, and difficulties for pedestrians crossing the road.”

Tracey and Noel Pullan, of Gillygate Shoe Repairs, said closure would make it ‘nice and quiet,’ and Gillygate pub landlord Brian Furey, who chairs a new trading association called The Fifth Quarter, said the work was a necessity and contractors had kept him well informed.