WORK to improve the A19 will start this weekend and run until May.

City of York Council is carrying out the work at the Crockey Hill junction with Wheldrake Lane from Sunday, January 14, and will run until May 4, but the council said no work will take place over the Easter weekend.

An extra southbound lane will be built on the approach to, and through the junction in an attempt to improve rush-hour congestion heading south out of York, particularly at the A64 Fulford Interchange, and the traffic lights in the area will also be improved.

Work will take place from 7am until 7pm, Monday to Friday, with temporary traffic signals in place throughout the construction period, with weekend working also expected to take place. The right hand turn into Wheldrake Lane will be closed from January 29 until March 11, with a signposted diversion in place.

Cllr Ian Gillies, Executive member for transport and planning, said: “Over 20,000 vehicles pass through this junction every day, therefore I’m pleased to see that we are making great progress with the works. The scheme will help to relieve congestion at this pinch-point that affects traffic across the south of the city – including the A19 and the A64 Fulford Interchange.”

Head of transport at City of York Council, Tony Clarke, said: “Due to unavoidable and essential work, road users should expect some delays when travelling in and around York throughout the early part of the year.

“To limit disruption, we have chosen this historically quiet time to upgrade several key areas of the road network.”

The main work follows from preparatory works in October 2017.