Work to start on junction near Scarborough Hospital

There is going to be minor and temporary changes to a junction near Scarborough Hospital today.

The work is set to take place on the carriageway of Scalby Road with Woodlands Drive.

It is after local concerns about the proximity of bus stop and the position of the island intended to protect cyclists re-joining the carriageway from the shared footway.

Today, North Yorkshire County Council's contractor will return to the junction to make immediate changes as an interim measure while a permanent solution is finalised.

County Councillor Don Mackenzie, Executive Member for Access, said:

"We always monitor highways improvements and we welcome views, so we're grateful to people for bringing these concerns to us. Our officers have listened and are acting quickly to address them.

"The immediate changes aim to improve safety for cyclists and provide motorists with a little more room to merge while we work on a permanent solution.

"This will be done over the next few weeks and will look to increase the length of the merge and consider whether changes should be made to how the left filter arrow appears.

"Our highways team has received many positive comments about the junction improvement, particularly that the new signals at the Stepney Drive junction make it much easier for drivers to go ahead and right from Stepney Drive, and that pedestrians and cyclists now have a signalised crossing. The widened lanes on Woodland Drive have also been praised.

"So despite the initial issues, we are confident that the junction will work well for residents, businesses and visitors in helping to meet the predicted rise in traffic flow as a result of housing development expected around Scarborough over the coming years."

County Councillor Andrew Jenkinson, Member for Woodlands division, added:

"I'm extremely happy with all that has been done on the three junctions. It's good that the public points out these minor changes that are needed. We have listened and are going to do the work as a matter of urgency."

Members of the public have also asked about reinstating the dedicated left turn on Scalby Road to Woodlands Drive, but the authority says this is not possible, as the change to two ahead lanes is an essential part of the design to ensure the junction can cope well with future traffic growth.