UPDATE
Highways have agreed with the concerns raised and are going to do the following:
- Temporary traffic lights on the junction of the A61/B6161
- These will be 3 way (A61 Northbound, A61 Southbound, B6161 exit on to A61 Northbound and Southbound)
- Manually controlled, 7 days a week, 07:00 to 19:00
- Temporary move the bus stop from outside the Killinghall Tesco
- Sign at the junction of Maltkiln Lane/A61 to say no through route to B6161
- Sign at the junction of Crag Lane/B6161 to say no through route to A61
- Suspension of the pedestrian crossing traffic lights, but include some in the temporary lights sequence
There is a concern about residents parking outside of number 5-15 Otley Road impeding the flow of traffic. This will be monitored, and I have suggested that if we need to intervene, we suspend the yellow lines on Cautley Drive so residents can park there.
There is no doubt that putting lights on will result in significant queuing on all 3 legs. However as long vehicles turning left on to the B6161 may not have been able to complete the turn, not having lights on would risk true gridlock. Traffic will not all follow the signed routes – I expect significant numbers of vehicle movements on Grainbeck Lane, Jenny Field Drive, Crowberry Drive and Harewood Road – but in some respects that will share some of the load out.
As this is a late change there is a risk that the developer/contractor will not have their temporary lights in place for Monday, so NYC have a contingency of putting their own lights on for 1 day.
As background, legally NYC have to facilitate the development for the new Tesco store. They considered a full A59 road closure (for a shorter period of time) but ruled this out as being unacceptable. There isn’t another credible, legal, diversion route. The developers wanted a 16 week diversion, but NYC have agreed to 10 weeks. It is going to be incredibly disrupting for both residents and motorists, but I am afraid there is no other option available.