HUNDREDS of drivers were caught up in traffic chaos yesterday as work to improve the A19 sparked tailbacks - making people late for work and children late for school.

Drivers were stuck in delays during rush-hour this morning (Monday, January 15) because of the work at the Crockey Hill junction with Wheldrake Lane, which began on Sunday and will run until May 4.

An extra southbound lane is being 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.

Following the delays, City of York Council closed Wheldrake Lane in both directions to ease Monday afternooon's rush hour traffic.

Ian Hitchcock, who lives off Fulford Road and works at the University of York, was among those stuck in traffic. He left his home, off Fulford Road, at 8.15am to take his two children to Naburn Primary School.

Ian said: “It’s usually a 10-minute journey from where we are.

“From where we live to Naburn School it took an hour. The kids were late for school.

“I was late for work. It took me an hour to get back home. In total, that’s two hours to do a six-mile trip.

“They’ve got a housing development going on at Germany Beck. That’s on the A19 on the way to the A64 roundabout. That is now coupled with further work on the A19. Everything seems to be focused on this one road.

“I’d just like to know if this is a one-off because it’s the first day of work. If this is going to be like it every day I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

Greg Stephenson, from Selby, said it took him two hours and 20 minutes to drive from Selby to his work in Huntington, a journey that usually takes him 40 minutes.

“They can’t carry on like this for 16 weeks,” he commented.

He also said: “The temporary traffic lights need looking at.

“They take too long to turn to green for northbound traffic.”

Dave Flett, who was travelling from near Selby to York, said: “It took me two hours to do a 45-minute journey.

“It seems they have got the timings wrong on the temporary traffic lights.

“I’m not very happy.”

City of York Council said the emergency closure of Wheldrake Lane this afternoon (Monday, January 15) should reduce traffic flows at the roadworks. It said the changes would mean only two-way rather than three-way traffic signals.

Special arrangements have been made to allow the school bus through the junction, while the number 36 will be diverted through Escrick.

In light of the short notice of the closure, the council said a member of staff will be at the junctions to Wheldrake Lane to help divert local traffic.

The council continues to advise residents to allow additional time for journeys and to use alternative routes where possible.

James Gilchrist, assistant director for transport at City of York Council, said: "We’re sorry for the lengthy delays which people experienced this morning. There is no way to avoid disruption when we have to carry out road improvements on busy routes, and we have taken steps to limit it.

“We’ve warned residents and commuters well in advance through the media and on-street signage, scheduled the most disruptive roadworks at one of the quietest times of the year, are working extended hours to get it done as quickly as possible, and designed the scheme to limit these delays.

“While the delays would have reduced as we make progress, we’ve applied for the emergency closure of Wheldrake Lane after seeing how the traffic flows have built up today.

“This large volume of traffic – over 20,000 vehicles pass through every day - reinforces the need for these improvements. They will have a real and positive impact on the long-term problem of southbound congestion – especially where the A64 meets Fulford Road.”

The council cannot open up the second lane of traffic for rush hours because the ongoing works mean the lane is not suitable for traffic.

The emergency closure will be in place until January 28.

Work is taking place from 7am until 7pm, Monday to Friday. Weekend working is also expected to take place.