A York road is to be shut for up to four weeks after work to install more bollards uncovered a problem.
And this comes before further disruption when the anti-terror bollards are actually installed.
YorkMix has learned that survey work ahead of the latest installation revealed unrecorded waterworks under High Ousegate.
This means the road will need to be dug up and the waterworks rerouted before the bollard work can commence.
So High Ousegate will be shut to traffic from the middle of May for up to four weeks.
A City of York Council spokesperson said: “During an earlier survey of this site, we identified an unmapped Yorkshire Water valve which needs work doing to it.
“Trial holes to explore and install an additional valve will be dug together to minimise disruption.
“This means that High Ousegate from Parliament Street to Spurriergate will close to all vehicles for up to four weeks from mid May. Pedestrian access will be unaffected.”
Once that work is completed there will be a couple of months when High Ousegate reopens, before work to install the bollards begins
“Works to install the new hostile vehicle measure barriers here will commence at the end of August, to avoid key events,” the spokesperson said.
The council says this will incur “additional costs to the general highways and transportation budget”, but didn’t put a figure on that.
High Ousegate was closed and dug up in January when Yorkshire Water responded to a burst water main.
Months of not working
Meanwhile, two sets of the already-installed bollards, at the Spurriergate junction with High Ousegate, and those close to Bootham Bar, have yet to slide into ‘closed’ position.
Despite the bollards having been in place for months, they are not yet operational. Traffic cones are used to enforce the footstreet restrictions.
The council spokesperson said: “The moving bollards at Spurriergate and High Petergate are being adjusted. Because it’s taking longer than planned, they are being kept open until the work is done.”
The disruption on High Ousegate comes after many months of problems caused by the bollards being installed across the city centre.
Many businesses on the affected streets said their takings nosedived while roads were closed.
The bollards are designed to stop a hostile vehicle attack by terrorists. They are costing £3.5 million.