T is more than two and a half years since Olympic and Commonwealth cyclist Peter Longbottom was killed when his bike was struck by cars on the A64 near Grimston Bar.

His death sent shockwaves through the cycling world and was a grim reminder, if one were needed, of just how dangerous roads can be for vulnerable cyclists.

If any good is ever to come out of such a tragedy, it can only be by taking steps to prevent such an accident happening again.

When Roads Minister Lord Whitty announced in March 1999 that a project to make the A64 safer for cyclists would be completed later that year, it seemed Mr Longbottom's death may not have been entirely in vain.

By November, the Highways Agency was pledging the improvements would be carried out in February this year. Today, we are still waiting.

The Highways Agency says the delays have been caused by the need to consult fully with the police and Cyclists' Touring Club over the proposals.

It is right that if work of this importance is to be carried out, it should be done properly. But the need for improvements has clearly been identified - and the longer delays continue, the more people will be at risk.

It is to be hoped that it does not take another tragedy to get matters moving - and that the Highways Agency will stick to its latest deadline of completing the work by the end of this year.