NORTH Yorkshire travellers will journey more safely and more freely thanks to road improvements under way in the county, says a government minister.

Transport Minister David Jamieson spoke as he visited the A64 Top Lane improvement scheme at Copmanthorpe as well as the ongoing work at the A1237 Rawcliffe roundabout.

The minister, who also laid the historic first sod of earth for the Selby bypass earlier in the day, said that the schemes were an important part of the government's transport plan.

He said beating congestion and improving safety were of the utmost importance and both these schemes worked towards that goal.

"I welcome this opportunity to see the early stages of the work at Top Lane which will address the accident problems at the present traffic signal junction, I know there has been local concern about the large number of accidents on this stretch of road and this vital scheme should bring about significant road safety benefits."

The £4.1 million project is set to be completed next summer and involves building a new link road and underpass beneath the A64. Later in the day the Minister visited the £2 million Rawcliffe roundabout improvement scheme and Park and Ride expansion in York.

Updated: 10:50 Thursday, August 16, 2001