This is the cause of the gridlock on York’s roads this morning.
Work has been going on to remove the container which came off a jackknifed lorry on the A1237 ring road road roundabout, also blocking the A59.
But frustrated drivers have today questioned why it has taken so long to move the obstruction.
UPDATE: City of York council announced that the road was clear at 8:40pm (Tuesday)
YorkMix readers have said the container was in the road at 6.30pm last night (Monday, 31 October).
But police didn’t tweet a warning until 9.03pm. By 11.43pm, City of York Council tweeted a late warning that it would still be there until at least 8am.
And the container was blocking the road throughout rush hour this morning, when it caused huge delays for travellers.
And work to recover it was going on past 11am.
One reader told us: “This traffic jam this morning is kind of unacceptable as I drove past this junction last night at 7pm, and this truck and container was already in its side.
“Surely there was enough time for rescue and recovery and avoid this carnage?”
Others criticised North Yorkshire Police. One said: “Absolutely terrible control over this. No police presence, chaotic traffic diversions, no use of the road past Manor to ease pressure on roundabout. York is in gridlock.
“Come on NYP, you can do better than this.”
We asked both City of York Council and North Yorkshire Police for response.
A council spokesperson didn’t give us a comment, but instead referred us to the emergency services.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “The lorry had to be recovered and it required specialist recovery equipment to do this.
“The recovery specialist arrived at around 10pm and the road was closed to allow them to carry out the recovery safely.
“Diversions are carried out by highways / local council. Highways should be able to advise how long it takes to recover such a vehicle.
“We left the scene at around 10pm once recovery had arrived and the incident was left in the hands of other agencies to carry out the recovery and manage the diversions.”
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