THE A64 near York should be back to full speed by tomorrow - just in time for the Royal Ascot meeting.

The dual carriageway has been subjected to a 40mph speed limit since work started last year on the construction of an £11 million new flyover at Bilbrough Top, between York and Tadcaster.

The limit has occasionally been reduced to as little as 30mph.

The restrictions, sometimes accompanied by single-lane contraflows, have caused lengthy tailbacks at busy times. But the Highways Agency was hoping the speed limit could finally be lifted by tomorrow, less than a week before thousands of motorists use the road to get to the Royal Ascot at York meeting.

The A64 will be the main route to the racecourse for cars and coaches approaching York from the south, west and north, and if the restrictions had continued, they could have led to lengthy jams stretching back as far as the A1.

The Highways Agency has been working hard to get the flyover completed in time for the meeting. An agency spokeswoman said that lane closures were expected today so that some final work could be carried out, but it was expected the limit could finally be restored to the usual 70mph by tomorrow.

It is understood that the flyover is set to be formally opened later this week, possibly by a Government Minister.

Updated: 11:17 Wednesday, June 08, 2005