Big changes planned at key York junction – cutting room for traffic by 30%

Major changes could be made to a city centre junction under council roadworks plans.

Work is due to take place to improve the junction at Bootham Bar, Gillygate and St Leonard’s Place.

City of York Council has drawn up two options and is asking people to have their say on which they prefer by 31 March.

Option A would see all traffic lights upgraded and the existing pedestrian crossings widened. Designers say the option will have a “negligible” impact on traffic and “slight improvements for pedestrians”.

Option B will make more space for pedestrians but cut the road capacity of the junction by around 30 per cent.

Designers say this option would cause “significant increases in general traffic delay at the junction and a large increase in queues”.

It would see an extra pedestrian crossing built, traffic lights upgraded and the left turn lane of traffic removed in St Leonard’s Place at York Art Gallery.

York Civic Trust says option B “will offer a stronger sense of place” and a spokesman said they are pleased that the plans have led residents to discuss the setting of Bootham Bar.

Option A

Option B

They said: “An area such as this in York would be the envy of any other town and city in the UK, too good to be lost to street clutter, standing traffic at a dangerous, scruffy junction, and with barely enough space to walk along the pavement let alone admire the views or take a photo of them.

“In addition, option B offers safer and more encouraging pedestrian and capacity traffic flows that are far more aspiring than the other option towards achieving the council’s carbon-zero ambition by 2030, when it is envisaged there will be far fewer petrol vehicles on these roads, and 30 per cent less across the city.

“What is most apparent in social media conversations is the desire to improve the quality of place and surroundings.

“How can the Bootham/ Gillygate junction be smartened up and better presented to make the most of what is – in Bootham Bar, York Art Gallery, The King’s Manor and The De Grey Rooms – amongst York’s finest heritage?

“How the area might become a better place to stop, admire, have a coffee or ice cream, or meet friends, rather than to get past it and away as quickly as possible, as is currently the case for most York citizens and visitors?”

Have your say here.