COUNCIL roadworks in York will send extra traffic on a lengthy diversion via Fishergate when it is already heavily congested because of the A64 roadworks.

But City of York Council denied today that the closure of Navigation Road and subsequent diversion will significantly worsen the Fishergate area's traffic problems.

Navigation Road, off Walmgate, is to be closed to traffic daily for a fortnight from Monday to allow for resurfacing work and repairs.

Traffic wanting to get into Walmgate from Foss Islands Road normally travels via Navigation Road, even though it is a residential street.

For the next fortnight, motorists will instead have to go straight past Walmgate Bar, along Paragon Street and Fawcett Street, down Fishergate and over Castle Mills Bridge, and then via Piccadilly and Leadmill Street to get into Walmgate from the other side.

The A19 Fulford Road and Fishergate have been more congested than usual since extra traffic started coming along it in September to avoid jams on the A64, caused by a single-lane contraflow at Copmanthorpe.

A council spokesman said today it was currently assessing every planned highways project against the impact of the Highways Agency's A64 roadworks at Copmanthorpe.

"Navigation Road is a minor link road and classified as traffic non-sensitive," he said.

Ray Chaplin, head of the authority's engineering consultancy, said: "We delayed work on this while Yorkshire Water's emergency scheme at Cemetery Road was going on.

"This is work that residents want done and will have no bearing on congestion caused by the Highways Agency's scheme.

"All those directly affected by the works have received a letter explaining what is happening, and advance notification signs will be erected at the roadside for the benefit of road users."

He added that access to properties would be maintained.

The council said that during the works its Commercial Services Organisation will be planing off some of the surface, repairing damaged areas, overlaying the whole road with a new Tarmac surface and reconstructing speed humps. Work can take place every day between 8am and 6pm, and a diversionary route will be signposted.

Daphne Ellis, managing director of the Evening Press, which is based in Walmgate, said the council had been very helpful in discussing what was being proposed with the newspaper, in an effort to ensure both newsprint and papers could get in and out of the Press's premises.

Updated: 11:41 Thursday, November 29, 2001