TRAVELLERS are being warned to expect "significant disruption" in the city centre at one of its busiest junctions next month.

The council is due to replace the traffic signals at the Lendal Arch gyratory, which includes the junctions of Station Road, Station Avenue, Station Rise, Rougier Street and Lendal Bridge.

Changes to the pedestrian crossings include widening and realigning the crossings to make the area safer and better for the thousands of pedestrians who regularly use them.

The pavement will be widened and the junction will be resurfaced. Temporary traffic lights will be in place during the work.

Councillor Ian Gillies, executive member for transport and planning, said: “These essential works continue our traffic signal renewal programme which ensures that signals at key junctions across the city are up to standard and working effectively.

“This is one of York’s busiest junctions and the work will bring it up to modern standards and ensure that traffic can continue to be well managed on the inner ring road.”

Work is set to start on Monday, January 22, and is expected to take nine weeks to complete, weather dependant. Work will take place seven days a week from 8am-6pm with some evening work required throughout the scheme.

Due to the location and nature of these works, people should expect significant disruption and should plan an alternative route where possible, the council says.

Bus passengers should visit www.itravelyork.info for more information on how the works will impact on their journey.

Other road works, connected to the development at Stonebow House, are also scheduled for January, to be carried out by utilities companies.

There will be four-way temporary traffic lights at the junction of Piccadilly/Pavement for two weeks starting on January 8 and an outbound closure on Piccadilly between Pavement and Merchantgate for two weeks from January 29.

The five year traffic signal asset renewal programme was agreed in November 2015 at a public meeting by the then councillor for transport and planning.

The total replacement programme will cost £2.62 million over five years and will be funded through the capital programme budget and the existing Local Transport Plan budget.