THE length of roadworks on the A64 will be halved after Highways England changed their plans in response to feedback from drivers.

The organisation is replacing 11 miles of the central reservation barrier between York and Tadcaster as part of a £3.6 million project.

About five miles of repairs between Bramham and Tadcaster is set to be completed on Friday.

And the next section of improvements will be done in two stages, with only three miles of speed restrictions at a time, to minimise disruption. The first stretch of work is due to start between Tadcaster and Bilbrough Top on May 21, with average speed cameras monitoring traffic.

Highways England project manager Chris Dunn said: “We know from when a lane was closed due to flooding at Steeton last month it caused a big impact on this busy stretch of dual carriageway on traffic at this location. We had considered using lane closures to speed up the work but the increased congestion would have been more disruptive to drivers and the local community.”

Lane closures will be in place overnight between 8pm and 6am.