The Government has given the green light for work to start on transport improvements in Scarborough.
More than £30M has been earmarked for a package of improvements to journey times, public transport services and safety, after an announcement last week by transport minister, Gillian Merron.
Most of the cash will be spent on a new 4.3km bypass on the A165 approach to Scarborough, including bus-only lanes at key points.
Two new park-and-ride facilities, one on the A165, adjacent to the bypass, and another on the A64 Seamer Road approach, are planned, together with an urban traffic control system, with bus-priority measures, in the centre of the resort.
The scheme was provisionally approved in December 2002, at a cost of £26.8M. Ministers have approved an increase in the government contribution to £29.7M, following a rise in the overall cost of the scheme, with North Yorkshire County Council contributing £750,000 to an overall scheme cost of £30.5M.
As well as providing relief to the congested A165 and Scarborough town centre, the scheme will also help facilitate economic development and urban renaissance.
Gillian Merron said: ‘The Government is investing £29.7M in this scheme, which will improve journeys into Scarborough and speed up journey times for traffic coming in to use the park-and-ride sites along the A165 and A64 approaches.
‘The new bypass will also help tackle congestion and improve safety for people living along the A165 Filey Road.’
Work on the scheme will start immediately, and should be completed by May 2008.