‘Vital’ gas upgrade means road delays (From York Press)

‘Vital’ gas upgrade means road delays on Cemetery Road and Bishopthorpe Road

9:14am Saturday 22nd September 2012 in News By Mike Laycock, Chief reporter

Flashback to roadworks in Cemetery Road in 2011 which caused long delays for commuters

MOTORISTS on two major York commuter routes are facing an autumn of delays and disruption because of “vital” gas improvements.

Roadworks are due to start in both Cemetery Road and Bishopthorpe Road on Monday.

Engineers will be replacing approximately 2.5km of gas mains in Bishopthorpe Road from the junction of Scarcroft Road to the junction of Campleshon Road. Two- way temporary traffic lights will be in operation during the work, which is expected to take until the end of November to complete.

The Cemetery Road scheme comes less than 18 months after temporary four-way traffic lights had to be installed at the junction of Cemetery Road and Kent Street to allow Northern Gas Networks engineers to repair a leaking gas main.

A spokesman said old metal gas mains were being replaced with modern plastic equivalents to ensure a safer and more reliable gas service for local residents for decades to come.

“Engineers will be working on a stretch of Cemetery Road, from the junction of Melbourne Street to the junction with Kent Street, Heslington Road and Barbican Road until the end of October,” the spokesman said.

“The work requires a lane closure affecting north-bound traffic.

“Traffic heading out of central York will be able to go down Barbican Road and Cemetery Road as normal, but traffic heading the other way will need to follow a short diversion route.

“Once work in Cemetery Road is complete, engineers will be carrying out two to three weeks of mains replacement in nearby Kent Street.

“This will require a single lane closure for one week, starting on November 6.

“Traffic will not be able to travel on to Fawcett Street from Kent Street during the closure period, but will be able to travel the other way, from Fawcett Street into Kent Street.”

The spokesman said Northern Gas Networks had been working closely with the local highways authority to plan the work, and had informed local residents.

He said: “We’ll be doing everything possible to minimise inconvenience, while we carry out this essential work.”