A MAJOR milestone in a drive to improve safety on the A64 near York was being celebrated today with the opening of a new stretch of road.

Work to enhance safety at the A64 Colton Lane/Bilbrough Top site has led to the creation of a new eastbound carriageway, which welcomes drivers for the first time today.

Since April, eastbound traffic has been running on temporary lanes created in the central reservation, as work on the £11 million new carriageway and flyover bridge took place.

Westbound traffic will switch to the new eastbound carriageway at a later date, so that work can begin on the flyover bridge foundations and new westbound carriageway.

Lynne Biddles, Highways Agency project manager, said: "This is an important milestone in the Colton Lane/Bilbrough Top project which, on completion, will significantly improve safety for road users.

"Until the westbound carriageway is finished at the end of the year, there will be two lanes running in each direction along the new eastbound carriageway. There may be occasions when traffic will need to be restricted to one lane in each direction to carry out minor completion work, but this will be kept to a minimum.

"The new lanes will be well marked so drivers should not be aware of any significant change at the site, but will need to be aware of the slight change in the alignment of the carriageway."

The A64 Colton Lane/Bilbrough Top junction improvements are designed to make the A64 safer for road users by improving local road links and improving access to Bilbrough Top service area.

Work began on site in February and is due to finish in spring 2005.

The Government gave the scheme the go-ahead last autumn after the Evening Press took its Close The Gaps campaign message to Westminster.

Updated: 10:58 Thursday, August 26, 2004