MAJOR delays are likely to be caused on the A59 coming in and out of York during £500,000 sewerage improvement works starting on Monday.

Yorkshire Water engineers predict the work, which involves the refurbishing of two existing underground storage tanks beneath Poppleton Road, will take about ten weeks to complete.

Congestion may also be created on the A19/Shipton Road as motorists seek to avoid the A59.

Temporary traffic lights will be in place for six weeks when the first chamber is put under the road, near to the junction with Renshaw Gardens.

The second chamber will be placed close to 14 Poppleton Road, with traffic lights necessary at this location on a number of weekends.

The majority of the work on this part of the scheme will take place in the highway verge, and in order to minimise any disruption only one set of lights will be in operation at any one time.

The work is being carried out as part of Yorkshire Water's £400 million Rivercare investment to upgrade inland sewage works, storm overflows and sewers.

Updated: 11:22 Thursday, January 16, 2003