PLANS to open the new A64 underpass near York this week have been dashed by the discovery of both a leaking gas main and buried asbestos.

Workers were just putting the finishing touches to the £4.1 million scheme at Copmanthorpe when they found a gas leak on land close to the underpass.

As that was being investigated, brown asbestos - one of the more dangerous types of the material - was discovered close to the gas main.

The Highways Agency said today that the material had not been used to lag the pipe, but dumped on the land at some time in the past, possibly before the full dangers of asbestos were known.

She said the construction of the underpass and an associated link road had been completed and it should have been opened to traffic yesterday.

But the opening had now been put back until the asbestos had been safely removed by specialist contractors and the leak had been fixed by Transco. It would not be safe to allow traffic through until both these issues had been addressed, she said.

Contractors were due on the site today to begin removing the asbestos, but the task is expected to take more than one day. The leak will be dealt with after that task has been completed.

The spokeswoman said: "The underpass is not going to be opened for a little while yet.

"It is not possible to say when it can be opened, but it is very unlikely it will be possible this week."

She said the Health and Safety Executive had been informed.

She stressed that neither workmen nor motorists had been put at any risk.

She also said that the leak had not been caused by workmen involved in the road-building scheme.

A Transco spokeswoman said it was not a significant leak which posed any risk. Workers were having to work in conjunction with the asbestos-removal contractors, but it was still expected repairs to the main would be completed by Friday.

The underpass has allowed the agency to remove notorious traffic lights at Copmanthorpe and close a gap in the central reservation which has been involved in a number of accidents.

Motorists from Copmanthorpe will be able to use the underpass to cross the A64 safely to get to York and also the eastbound carriageway.

Until it opens, drivers are having to use the York Outer Ring Road flyover to cross the dual carriageway.

Copmanthorpe councillor John Galvin said: "It's unfortunate that this kind of problem has arisen and fresh delays are going to be experienced in opening the underpass."

Updated: 15:16 Tuesday, October 01, 2002