MOTORISTS are facing major delays on the A64 near York as contraflows are introduced for the first time during the Bilbrough Top flyover project.

Highways Agency chiefs say the single-lane contraflows, set to operate for four weekends in succession, will inevitably cause congestion.

But they are not expecting a repeat of the chaos caused three years ago by contraflows at Copmanthorpe, when busy weekday rush-hour traffic was brought to a grinding halt and knock-on congestion hit roads across York.

The agency says it is working hard to ensure that the dual carriageway at Bilbrough is free of all roadworks in time for Royal Ascot at York in mid-June, when thousands are expected to travel along the A64 from the south and west to get to York Racecourse.

An even tighter deadline they are also hoping to meet is the Easter weekend, on March 26 and 27, traditionally a busy time on the road.

A spokeswoman said it was acutely aware of the Ascot event and, while landscaping and other tidying up work might still be needed in the summer, work on the A64 itself should be finished by the end of May.

The £11 million flyover scheme started last year, following years of campaigning by the Evening Press for the closure of dangerous gaps in the central reservation. The bridge will finally give drivers a safe way of crossing the A64.

The project has mostly involved nothing more than a narrowing of lanes and a 40mph speed limit. Despite this, traffic jams have at busy times, such as last week's February half-term, stretched back as far as Copmanthorpe and Tadcaster.

The agency said that for four consecutive weekends - February 26 and 27, March 5 and 6, March 12 and 13 and March 19 and 20 - contraflows will be needed to allow engineers to connect the new stretch of carriageway under the flyover with the existing A64.

A spokeswoman said the speed limit would also be reduced to 30mph because the carriageway would be slightly narrower than previously.

The agency would also have the powers to reduce the limit to 10mph if an abnormally wide load needed to come through, although this was not anticipated.

The contraflows will operate from late each Friday evening until very early the following Monday morning, with work continuing 24 hours a day to ensure it is completed in time.

Updated: 11:30 Tuesday, February 15, 2005