Holgate Bridge roadworks end

9:24pm Saturday 3rd November 2007

IT'S the news that York's long-suffering motorists have been waiting for.

Roadworks on the A59 Holgate Road at Holgate Bridge - which have caused delays and congestion through much of 2007 - have finally finished.

Network Rail began the £1 million upgrade of the bridge in February, and initially hoped to complete the surface work by Easter. But unexpected setbacks delayed the scheme, and there have recently been further Saturday night closures of the bridge.

However, all the visible work above ground level has now finished, allowing free-flow of traffic on a busy road which is part of the main route from York to Harrogate and the A1.

A spokeswoman said there was still further work to be done out-of-sight under the bridge, which would not be completed until January, but this would not affect motorists.

The company has previously apologised for the disruption caused to motorists and pedestrians, but said the project has been vital to maintain and strengthen the bridge for years to come.

"Once this work is completed the bridge should require no further substantial works for 25 years," said Dyan Crowther, Network Rail's route director.

The works were delayed after workmen dug up the road surface and discovered the underside was in a far worse condition than expected and did not correspond to engineers' drawings.

Matthew Woodcock, the community evangelist based at nearby St Paul's Church, said: "It's good news that the work has finished. The scheme caused quite a bit of disruption, but we understood the need for the work to be done."