Update 19th June 024
Work has started on widening the Tadcaster Road/London Bridge access to the York – Selby cycle path. The access is currently closed to both cyclists and pedestrians. There is a diversion in place via Sim Balk Lane. The works are scheduled to be finished by 28th June.
The work is taking place just as the weather is improving. Today the cycle track was busy.
There are still some obstacles on the track. The overgrowth at “cemetery corner” is starting to overgrow the path again while undergrowh is also an issue on the relatively narrow section of track at Bishopthorpe.
The Council is responsible for maintenance at the former. The corner was to have been adjusted to improve sight lines as part of the £5 million Tadcaster Road improvement scheme. However the money ran out before workers could reach this well used section of path.
The track at Bishopthorpe is the maintenance responsibility of Sustrans.
Both problems – together with the obstructions on the path near the Tesco roundabout – occur each summer.
Previous Update 16th June 2024
A reminder that the Tadcaster Road entrance to the cycle track will be closed from tomorrow Monday. Access to the path will be viThere are still some obtracles a a detour from Sim Balk Lane
The Council have cut back some overgrowth on the cycle path link to the A64 southern by pass but overgrowth (tree branches) remains a hazard for the unwary
Nearby, the cycle path near the Moor Lane roundabout juction is now obstructed by overgrowth covering half its width. Unfortunately this tends to happen every summer. The path should be added to the routine maintenance programme.
Previously 12th June 2024
More details have become available of the intended works at London Bridge on Tadcaster Road whihc will start in a few days time. .
The Council have confirmed that the spiral access track will be widened
The works that are being carried out are two-fold:
- Widening and resurfacing of the spiral footpath from the P&R down to the overpass
- Rectifying defects in the drainage under the over-pass
“The widening will leave the spiral 3m wide from top to bottom which would be circa 1.0 – 1.3m wider than it is currently and the entry down to where it meets the overpass will also be realigned for greater visibility so that there is more width for people coming down the spiral path and people coming from the overpass.
New linear drainage will be added under the overpass to remove the ponding that is currently being witnessed in wet weather.”
The drainage work is badly needed and will be welcomed by users.
The decision to omit the separate flight of steps, for pedestrian use, less so. These step where shown in the original plans for the entrance and were aimed at seperating the large groups of footballers from wheelers.
The Council has aso confirmed that at this time it will not be improving the cycle path link to the A64. Parts of this section of the path are very uneven a due to root damage.
Overgrowth is also an issue.
NB. The Council have not provided a recent update on when they hope to recommence work on improving the cycle track opposite York College. The project was abandoned last year when the authority ran out of money. They promised then that work would recommence as soon as possible. The work was to include improvements at the (blind) “cemetery corner” which forms part of the link to the spiral access. Currently the corner is affected by overgrowth
The York Council intends to close the London Bridge (Tadcaster Road) to A64 southern by pass section of the York-Selby cycle track, for 11 days starting at 0800 hrs on Monday 17th June.
The Council expects the work to be finished by 1800hrs on Friday 28th June 2024
There is no doubt that work is required on this section of path. The surface has been badly damaged by tree roots in places.
In addition, over and undergrowth obstructs the path. In places it is now little more than a metre in width.
There is also a ponding problem next the exit from the London Bridge ttinnel. There is a permant pool of water obstructing the path at this point.
What is not clear is whether work will include the long awaited – and much promised – impovements to the spiral access path. The improvements were a condition of a planning approval for the provision of football pitches in the area. The expectation was that the cycle track would be widened and that a seperate set of steps would be provided for the use of pedestrians.
However the work was never competed.
The Council is currently therefore still in breach of the planning condition.
NB. The Council has already closed the Rufforth – Knapton cycle path. It is not expected to reopen for 6 months.
York News Focus 
Thanks for the heads-up.
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