MOTORISTS from York are facing massive disruption this spring on a major route to the coast.

The historic bridge on the A166 at Stamford Bridge is set to close for up to 12 weeks for extensive repairs.

Drivers will be diverted away from the town, either along a narrow country road through Buttercrambe or via the A1079, sparking fears that this already busy route will suffer even greater congestion problems.

Janet Towse, of Stamford Bridge, said: "It is about to become ten times worse.

"During the closure, people who have to travel to York for work or school will almost certainly have to join the already congested A1079, so the long journeys members of the public are enduring will be increased considerably." There are also fears that traders in the village, such as pubs, shops and a fish and chip shop, will suffer a severe drop in passing trade.

The worst traffic problems could arise around the Easter and May Day Bank Holiday weekends, when thousands normally head out through the village to resorts such as Filey and Bridlington.

Miss Towse said that traffic through Stamford Bridge on the A166 was "horrendous" at all times of the day, but especially in the early morning and evening rush hours when drivers found themselves in long queues waiting for a green traffic light to cross the single lane bridge. "The bridge is not built to cater for modern day vehicles and quite often is damaged by wide and long vehicles trying to negotiate it," she said.

"What we need at Stamford Bridge is a further bridge crossing over the River Derwent, and the sooner the better."

But local district and parish councillor Hilary Saynor said there was no possibility of a new bridge alongside the old one, and the only long term solution would be a full bypass. However this would cost a considerable sum that could only be found by the Government.

She said there was no alternative to the bridge repairs, unless people were prepared to let it continue deteriorating and eventually collapse into the river. She said the project, which begins on March 5, was being staged at the best time of year. It would avoid winter when the river was most likely to be in full spate and at risk of delaying the work, but also avoid the summer period when traffic was heaviest.

She said while traders would lose some passing trade, they might gain more business from local residents deterred from going to York by a detour they would face - up to seven miles if they decided to go via Buttercrambe.

She said buses from York would run up to the bridge on the York side, with residents able to walk across the bridge to get to them. A shuttle bus might also run in the town to ferry residents to the bridge.