York Outer Ring Road plans set to be approved despite traffic concerns

Computer generated image of what the York Outer Ring Road could look like

Plans to turn a section of York's outer ring road into a dual carriageway are set to be approved despite objections.

City of York Council wants to widen the A1237 from the A19 to the A1036 Little Hopgrove roundabout at a cost of £65m.

Following a series of revisions the plans, first submitted in 2022, are expected to be backed by the planning committee at a meeting next Tuesday.

More than 130 objections have been submitted, with concerns around congestion and environmental impact.

The scheme also includes the construction of a bridge over the York to Scarborough railway line and another over the River Foss.

The council has previously said the aim of the project is to improve York's road network, reduce traffic levels and help speed up journey times out of the city centre.

Among those to raise concerns, York Green Party said it was worried about "overdevelopment" and has called for the plans to be rejected.

They said the proposal was "contrary to the climate emergency action plan", would result in an increase in traffic in the city centre and would see the loss of "designated Green Belt land".

Meanwhile, Treemendous York said the project would see "a colossal number of mature trees and hedgerows being felled".

Despite their concerns, the plans have received support from the Environment Agency and Natural England.

Other changes in the revised application include alterations to roundabouts, provision of a 5.1km shared-use cycle and pedestrian route, signalised crossing facilities for active travel users, two overbridges and six underpasses for pedestrians and cyclists.

If approved, construction work on the outer ring road is expected to take two years to complete.