ROADWORKS misery returns tonight for motorists in York as major repairs to a railway bridge enter their second phase.

The £1 million scheme to refurbish Holgate Bridge was halted before the Easter holidays to avoid disrupting extra tourist traffic, but now thousands of drivers are facing up to four more weeks of queues and delays on the A59 into York.

The bridge will be closed completely from 10pm this evening until 8am tomorrow, and there will then be one lane of traffic only for weeks to come, enforced by traffic lights.

Network Rail is also involved in a race against time to ensure the project finishes before May 16, when York Racecourse holds its first race meeting of the year - bringing thousands of extra drivers on to Holgate Road.

The project was originally due to finish for good by Easter, but those plans were derailed when Network Rail dug up the road surface and discovered that its underside was in a far worse condition than first expected. To make matters worse, the bridge also did not correspond to the original architects' drawings.

The iron structure carries about 20,000 motorists every day.

Lee Perkins, who runs Holgate Road Tyres, has told previously of his devastation at the renewed closure, claiming he had lost £1,000 a week since the work started because of the impact on passing trade.

Network Rail has apologised for the extra disruption that the project will cause, but said it is vital to maintain and strengthen the bridge to ensure it is fit for purpose for years to come.

Dyan Crowther, Network Rail's route director, said it had worked closely with City of York Council to plan the additional works to try to minimise the impact on the community, hence the decision to reopen for the busy school holidays, adding: "We will do everything possible to reopen the road in time for the first race meeting of the season on May 16."

York Racecourse spokesman James Brennan has said it was "very keen" for the work to be completed on time.