Cawood Bridge is to be closed to traffic next week as the B1222 undergoes major flood protection work.

The stretch of carriageway between Cawood Road and Kelfield Road will be closed throughout the day from Tuesday to Friday, leaving drivers facing a six-mile detour through Selby to get from Cawood to York.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire County Council’s highways department said the surface of the road was being raised by approximately five inches to alleviate the flooding which regularly sees the bridge closed.

He said: “It is hoped that by raising the level of the road, the highways authority will avoid the road closures which have occurred when the River Ouse has burst its banks due to very high water levels. If the road floods sufficiently to necessitate a road closure it can be days if not weeks before it is safe to open the road to highway users. Provided there are no unforeseen delays the closure will be removed by late afternoon on Friday, August 13.”

County Councillor Gareth Dadd said: “We believe these improvements to the B1222 will prevent traffic disruption in future from flooding. We hope therefore this short-term road closure and inconvenience will make life better for road users in the future.”

Residents and businesses in the Cawood area are already bracing themselves for the closure – the second so far this year. In May, the Victorian bridge was closed to allow emergency repairs to a number of bolts.

Julie Donnison, of Cawood Caravan Park, in Ryther Road, said: “It’s a big detour. You have to go to Selby and on to the A19.

“It’s a bus route too so I don’t know how they will manage that. It’s a real hassle.”

Cawood resident and former parish councillor Mike Cowlin said: “If you are going to York, there are still road works on the A19 – people are going to want avoid that. You are going to hit more traffic. If the bridge is closed we won’t have one bus service too – it throws the whole timetable in to chaos.”

The council will have diversion signs in place throughout the closure, which will be between the hours of 8am and 5pm. For details, phone 0845 366 9507.