York City Council’s Executive Committee will be asked to note progress and approve a number of recommendations to progress the York Outer Ring Road Scheme.

The York Outer Ring Road scheme, which is led by the Council and valued at £65m, will improve the city’s highway network by reducing congestion, moving car journeys out of the city centre and enhancing the pedestrian and cycle experience with significant improvements to sustainable transport along the network.

At the meeting next week, Executive Members will be provided with a progress update on the proposed York Outer Ring Road A1237 (Rawcliffe to Little Hopgrove) Dualling Scheme.

A significant milestone has been reached in the scheme, as a planning application is to be submitted imminently. Work has also been ongoing to complete the detailed design, develop the final business case and acquire land for the scheme, said the council.

Executive members will also be asked to consider options to mitigate potential delays, due to the time that utility diversion works can often take. These enabling works would allow the full scheme, which is subject to planning permission, to progress. Diverting utilities at an early stage will help to avoid costly delays to the project.

Subject to planning consent, it is hoped construction work will start in mid-2023 for 2 years, with completion in 2025.

Councillor Keith Aspden, Leader of City of York Council, said: “We are looking forward to the submission of a planning application, which will signal a major next step forward for this important project.

“Upgrading the Ring Road provides us with an opportunity to reduce congestion and journey times and enhance pedestrian and cycle facilities, which would see car journeys move out of the city centre, aiding in our continued work to improve air quality in the city centre. The consultation process has made it clear that residents and stakeholders are squarely behind this scheme and we are committed to taking it forward.”

Mark Ramsden, Head of Service at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, said: “It is great to be working alongside City of York Council and the Department for Transport to progress vital transport improvements on the York Outer Ring Road that will support the people and visitors to this great city and the wider Leeds City Region.

The scheme includes upgrades to 6 sections of the northern York Outer Ring Road, including 5 roundabouts at:

• Clifton Moor
• Wigginton Road
• Haxby Road
• Strensall Road
• Monks Cross

Existing single-carriageway roads will also be widened to dual-carriageway roads in both directions.

The full scheme, which is valued at over £65 million, is funded by the City of York Council, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the Department for Transport.