York City Council has submitted a bid for £42M to improve York’s outer ring road (ORR). The money would be spent on upgrading all junctions on the A1237 between and including Wetherby Road and Strensall Road.

The bid, which has been submitted to the regional transport board, is also for £4M to fund improvements to bus services and cycling facilities. The proposal would provide improvements to seven roundabouts on that stretch of the ORR, incorporating a new orbital cycle route and subways.

It is anticipated the proposals would lead to enhanced connections for rural bus services and reduce bus journey times. The city council initially planned to dual the road, but this had to be dropped after the estimated cost was calculated at more than £264M at 2014 prices, and was deemed to be ‘poor’ value for money. The council will discover on 23 January whether its bid has been successful.