Drivers can expect a string of temporary traffic lights and diversions in the coming months as nearly £1m of road repairs begin.

And the traffic misery is to be compounded by work to enlarge the roundabout on the A19 at Rawcliffe - a £1.5m project to begin on January 24 for eight months.

Parts of Wigginton Road and Jockey Lane, Huntington, will be closed for a time.

A total length of about six miles of carriageway will be resurfaced, seeking to provide a good quality and safe running surface for all road users.

The first of the nine schemes began last night with resurfacing at Micklegate and Bridge Street.

The second scheme - to resurface and reconstruct sections of the carriageway from Grimston Bar Roundabout to Holtby along the A166 - starts on Monday.

The work is expected to last ten weeks and temporary traffic lights will be in use at various stages.

Unveiling the three-month programme today Councillor Dave Merrett, the council's executive member for planning, transport and the environment, said, "Our annual Residents' Opinion Survey continually shows that the maintenance of the highway is one of the most important issues for residents of York and this package of works is in recognition of that sentiment.

Overnight working has been programmed on some sites to again minimise disruption to road users.

There are nine schemes in total, including:

* Micklegate/Bridge Street - resurfacing carriageway

* A1079 - Hull Road - Resurfacing work will start later this month

* Foss Bank - two weeks of resurfacing

* Repair and resurface the road and footpath along Holgate Road from February 26.

There will also be work at the Bootham/Gillygate Junction, Huntington Road, Wigginton Road and New Lane, Huntington.

Meanwhile, a village bridge near York is to be closed for a month for repairs.

Strensall Bridge on Sheriff Hutton Road at Strensall will be closed to

traffic from Monday, January 29, for up to four weeks.

A recent routine examination discovered wear and tear to the bridge which needs to be repaired to prevent further damage.

The repair and improvement work to be undertaken will require the road construction and surfacing to be removed to enable the repairs to take place.

Repairs to the stonework will also be undertaken during this time. On

completion of the work the road will be resurfaced.

A diversion route via Flaxton and Sheriff Hutton will be in operation.

Updated: 11:15 Thursday, January 11, 2001