News
Plan to avert traffic misery as diversions take effect on Monday
Friday 25 April 2008
Go with the flow or stuck in a jam? Ripon prepares for Monday's diversions
MAJOR traffic diversions will be in place around Ripon from Monday as the city braces itself for construction of the new link road.
Diversion signs to guide motorists around the city will be put in place over Sunday night, ready for the Monday morning commute.
The work will mean that Coltsgate Hill – a road well-used by motorists to avoid the busy one-way system around the market square – could be closed to traffic until the end of the year. It is expected pedestrian access from North Street will be maintained at all times.
Harrogate-based Houseman and Falshaw have been awarded the contract and will move on to the site next week to begin construction of the road, which will connect Coltsgate Hill and Blossomgate and also provide access to the west of Market Place development.
traffic changes
County Coun John Fort, executive member for business and environmental services, said: "Our aim throughout is to provide this vital new piece of the city's infrastructure while at the same time ensuring life continues as near normal as possible."
Traffic-flow changes and a list of recommended routes for motorists travelling from outside the city are featured on our Keep Ripon Moving website.
The routes, which were drawn up by the council in partnership with a working party of representatives from the local community and Ripon City Council, encourage motorists travelling from outside Ripon to the central car parks to use the bypass and Rotary Way as much as possible.
Motorists needing to travel through the city are encouraged to take advantage of the Water Skellgate-Somerset Row stretch of road where the traffic signals will be altered to allow a higher volume of traffic to head east and west.
One of the ways this will be achieved is banning traffic from the east turning right from Water Skellgate to go up High Skellgate.
The success of the traffic scheme will be reviewed after two weeks with regular reviews carried out throughout the period of the construction work.
