MOTORISTS have been assured there will be no repeat of the Copmanthorpe traffic jam nightmare when the next big A64 project gets underway.

The construction of an underpass to allow villagers from Copmanthorpe to get safely across the dual carriageway has caused major congestion.

The problems have been caused by traffic funnelling down into a contraflow involving just one lane in each direction.

That scheme is due to finish next summer.

About one year later, another major project to build a safe crossing is probably due to get underway, several miles along the A64 at Bilbrough Top.

That scheme will also last about a year.

But Highways Agency official David Phillips has reassured drivers that it will not cause them anything like the same problems.

He said there would not need to be a single-lane contraflow for any lengthy period of time.

One reason was that the crossing would be provided through the construction of a flyover rather than an underpass, because of the different topography of the two sites.

The approaches to the flyover could be built without disrupting traffic and then parts of the bridge could be winched by crane into place at night, with just temporary contraflows in operation.

He said there was also more room at the side of the road at Bilbrough Top, so it was easier to keep two lanes open in each way.

Meanwhile, Mr Phillips has revealed that it will be another fortnight before it is known how much disruption phase two of the Copmanthorpe works will cause next year.

The agency is jointly investigating with police whether two lanes can be created in each direction on the reopened eastbound carriageway.

He conceded it was possible that they may conclude two lanes could run in one direction, but only one in the other.

Updated: 08:34 Friday, November 02, 2001