EXPERIMENTAL measures on Skipton Road to improve traffic flow have been successful and will now be made permanent.

 

Surveys of journey times before the measures were introduced in the spring, were repeated in October.  These have shown that journeys between the Empress and New Park roundabouts have been reduced by three minutes in the morning peak period and by one and half minutes in the evening peak period.

 

Councillor Julian Sturdy, Cabinet Member for Transport, has authorised making the measures permanent.  He said:  "The improvements in journey times and traffic flow on Skipton Road is great news and proves the proactive approach this council is taking is starting to work.  And when considered with other measures in place to prevent peak time loading and reducing the opportunity for parked vehicles which impedes flow, we hope this will all add up to a lasting improvement."

 

"And the work doesn't stop here.  We are continually looking at future improvements to the road network in Harrogate and Knaresborough."

 

The measures to be made permanent include preventing left turns out of Westmoreland Street to increase 'green time' on Skipton Road, no right turn from Skipton Road into Church Avenue and giving more priority to vehicles turning right into Kings Road.  ENDS