DETAILS of the £9 million upgrade currently under way at the A64 Hopgrove roundabout junction in York go on show to the public tomorrow.

The exhibition at Stockton-on-the-Forest village hall will be a chance for people to discuss the aims and benefits of the scheme with team members from the Highways Agency.

The scheme has previously met with controversy as it will mean 46 weeks of lane closures and reduced speed limits.

Early site preparation has now been completed, with work on the carriageway having started earlier this week.

Highways Agency project manager Steve Wright said: “The public exhibition will be a chance for local residents and road users to find out more about what the work involves.

“We will be happy to discuss the scheme in more detail with visitors, and we hope the exhibition will help to reassure people about the steps we are taking to minimise possible issues such as noise, dust and congestion during the work.

“The work, to be completed in late 2009, aims to improve safety and reduce congestion at this busy junction for drivers and residents alike.”

York’s transport supremo, Coun Steve Galloway, said at the time of the announcement: “I am pleased that, as promised, the Highways Agency is making progress on starting improvements on the Hopgrove roundabout.

“The junction has been a source of congestion – and driver frustration – for many years, and we all look forward to a more free-flowing arrangement.”

Improvement work at the site is centred on the A64 approaches to Hopgrove roundabout, the A1237 link road between Hopgrove roundabout and Malton Road roundabout, and the A1036 and A1237 approaches to Malton Road roundabout.

New traffic lights will be installed at Hopgrove and Malton Road roundabouts, while additional traffic lanes, new signs and road markings will be introduced to help ease congestion.

During the work there will be narrow lanes and some lane closures, with delays expected for drivers. The majority of the work will be carried out between 7.30am and 6pm, although during peak traffic times all lanes will remain open.

The scheme will require some night-time working between 8pm and 6am, but noisy work will not take place past 11pm.

On five nights, the A64 will be shut on the approaches to Hopgrove roundabout, the roundabout itself and the A1237 link road. At all times, a speed limit of 30mph will be in place for 500 metres either side of Hopgrove roundabout, and a 50mph limit for 350 metres before the 30mph zone on each side.

A 30mph speed restriction will operate on the A1237 link road and the A1036 and A1237 approaches to the Malton Road roundabout.

The public exhibition takes place at the Stockton-on-the-Forest village hall, Sandy Lane, York, from 1pm until 7pm.