HIGHWAYS chiefs are pressing ahead with a bid for millions of pounds to help prevent one of York’s busiest roads being repeatedly closed by flooding.

City of York Council wants to carry out flood prevention work on the A19 at Fulford, which was shut three times last year by flooding from the nearby River Ouse, and also to install new signals and improve access at key junctions.

It is seeking a share of £170 million in Government “Pinch Point Funding”, designed to support local transport schemes that tackle congestion and support growth.

The Press revealed last month how the authority was set to bid for cash from the national pot in the hope it might start some of the city’s biggest stalled developments, including the Germany Beck housing project at Fulford.

The council said yesterday it was hoping for about £2 million from the Department for Transport, with remaining £2.7 million cost of the scheme being met by the private sector and existing council transport budgets.

A spokeswoman said key elements of the proposals included:

• The introduction of a new left- turn, free-flow lane from A19 into the Designer Outlet Park & Ride

• Inbound bus priority lanes on the A19 between the A64 and Germany Beck

• Bus priorities at the Naburn Lane junction and an enhanced junction at the proposed Germany Beck development.

The spokeswomamn said: “The scheme will complement and enhance the improvements planned to be provided as part of the Germany Beck development, which will create new access to the site and raise the height of the road to be above flood levels.”

Coun Dave Merrett, cabinet member for transport, planning and sustainability, said the repeated closure of the A19 caused major disruption and hit businesses hard.

“By carrying out these flood and surface water drainage improvements on this section, it will support the Germany Beck development and potential growth in the area to future-proof York’s fast growing communities,” he said.

“In addition to supporting one of the largest housing developments in York, funding will also improve access to Designer Outlet Park&Ride. This should make the Park&Ride more attractive and help us to get more people out of their cars, relieving congestion and improving air quality in the Fulford Road/Fishergate corridor which is a pollution hot spot.”

If the bid is successful, construction could start as early as 2014.