DISRUPTION and delays are expected on York's roads from Sunday, when work starts on traffic light upgrades at one of the city's busiest junctions.

City of York Council will carry out upgrades to the traffic signals around the Lendal Arch on Sunday, affecting the junctions of Station Road, Station Avenue, Station Rise, Rougier Street and Lendal Bridge.

Motorists are advised to expect delays for the duration of the work, which will take place every day for up to ten weeks, between 8am and 6pm.

Changes will also be made to the pedestrian crossing, widening and realigning it for safety, and the pavement will also be brought up to date and widened.

Councillor Ian Gillies, executive member for transport and planning said: "This is one of York’s busiest junctions and the essential work will bring it up to modern standards and ensure that traffic can continue to be well managed on the inner ring road. These works continue our traffic signal renewal programme which ensures that signals at key junctions across the city are up to maintained to a high standard and working effectively."

James Gilchrist, assistant director for transport, said: "Road users should expect some delays when travelling in and around York throughout the early part of the year due to a series of essential road maintenance schemes that are currently ongoing.

"In a bid to limit disruption, we have chosen this historically quiet time to upgrade several key areas of the road network. This includes improving the Lendal Arch junction and junction improvement works on the A19 at Crockey Hill. We’re also working alongside partners to coordinate other works at Germany Beck and utilities works in the Piccadilly and Pavement area of the city.

"We urge road users to plan their journeys and look at using alternative methods of transport where possible, including public transport, to reduce congestion and speed up journey times. Once again, we’re doing everything we can to minimise the short-term disruption while we improve the city’s road network."

Temporary lights will be used during the works, and road users have been urged to plan their journeys and consider public transport to reduce congestion.

Resurfacing of the road will take place in mid to late April, with work set to take place overnight. 

Other city centre road works, connected to the development at Stonebow House scheduled for January have already started and include outbound closure on Piccadilly between Pavement and Merchantgate for two weeks starting on January 29.

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

For information about bus diversions during the works, go to itravelyork.info