Works Begin on Whitby Junction
North Yorkshire County Council¡®s major project to upgrade Mayfield Road junction in Whitby will get underway today.
Contractors will move on site to start the upgrade which will involve a new junction layout and the installation of an up-to-date intelligent signalling system to improve traffic flow and significantly increase pedestrian safety.
Temporary walkways and traffic lights will be used to allow the junction to remain open for the duration of the project. The works will firstly involve digging trial holes to determine the location of underground services. The scheme involves the installation of new traffic signal control equipment, with capabilities to detect vehicle queues and pedestrians. New traffic islands will be built for pedestrians to cross more safely. All the pedestrians crossing places will be brought within the control of the junction traffic lights to ensure safer and coordinated pedestrian facilities.
The works are programmed to last approximately 12 weeks to ensure completion before the height of the tourist season. The majority of the work will take place during the day between the hours of 7.00a.m and 7.00pm, Monday to Friday.
Weekend working will be avoided to minimise disruption to the town¡¯s weekend tourism trade and temporary traffic lights will not be in use at the weekend unless necessary. Special consideration will also be given to Bank Holiday weekends to give as much road space as possible back to drivers and pedestrians.
Towards the end of the project, a small amount of work will take place overnight for resurfacing and road marking.
Notification letters will be sent prior to night shift work and every effort will be made to keep noise and disruption to a minimum.
Balfour Beatty, which has been completing the County Council¡¯s Sandsend sea defence works, has been contracted to deliver this scheme which has been a long term aspiration of the local highway authority.
Road users, local residents, businesses and schools will be kept informed about developments and the detail of traffic management and there will be a 24-hour helpline for queries
Regular updates on the works will be available on the County Council website once the work is underway.
County Councillor Joe Plant said:
¡°This junction upgrade is a major undertaking and has the potential to cause some disruption, but the work is long overdue and it is good news for Whitby that we are finally able to undertake this important project before the summer tourist season really gets underway. The junction is very busy and there is an overriding need to improve traffic flow in the long term. The County Council has agreed to the work starting next week on the assurance that the work is planned to be completed within 12 weeks. The County Council will ensure that every effort is made to keep the disruption to a minimum.¡±
The Mayfield Road junction carries the arterial routes from Scarborough and Teesside in and out of the town and it has long been recognised by the County Council and Whitby¡¯s residents and visitors that the junction needs significantly upgrading to improve traffic flow as well as increasing pedestrian safety close to the town¡¯s multi-site secondary school.
As a result of significant savings the County Council has had to make - total of ¡ê166.3m to the end of the decade which represents a reduction of a third of the council¡¯s total spending power ¨C the improvements have not been able to go ahead so far.
However, Sirius Minerals has offered to work with the County Council to deliver the junction upgrade in the next 12 weeks, contributing ¡ê400,000 towards the ¡ê705,000 scheme.
The planning permission for the Company¡¯s new mine requires the junction to be improved and the company has now offered to work with the County Council to bring about the upgrade early to support and improve Whitby¡¯s transport infrastructure.
In addition to funding from Sirius towards the scheme, there will be over ¡ê200,000 of contributions from S106 agreements, currently held by Scarborough Borough Council. The County Council will be required to contribute ¡ê86,507 at this time.
County Councillor Don Mackenzie, North Yorkshire¡¯s Executive Member for Highways, said:
¡°This is a great opportunity for a major improvement to Whitby¡¯s transport infrastructure¡± said ¡°and represents real value for money as the County Council is now securing a ¡ê700,000 scheme for a contribution of just over ¡ê86.000.
¡°Everything will be done to make sure these works are completed as swiftly and safely as possible.¡±
