The public are being invited to an event to learn more about the design for a new road layout to address air quality concerns at the Bond End junction in Knaresborough.
The junction was identified as an Air Quality Management Area in Harrogate Borough Council’s Air Quality Action Plan in 2013. The annual target for nitrogen dioxide, which mostly comes from traffic pollution, had been exceeded. A key action was to improve the junction to address the issue of queuing traffic.
Earlier this year, North Yorkshire County Council approved plans to replace the traffic lights at the junction with two mini roundabouts. The plan also includes four new zebra crossings. Since March, designers have been conducting surveys to ensure a safe scheme can be delivered.
The County Council will hold a public “meet the designers” event on Thursday, 28 June, at Knaresborough House, Knaresborough, from 2pm to 7pm. County Council highways officers and the authority’s consultants, WSP, will be available to talk to visitors about the final design. All residents in the area will receive a letter inviting them to the event and there will be a dedicated time slot for people living near the junction to ensure they have time to discuss the final design with designers and the project manager.
County Councillor Don Mackenzie, Executive Member for Highways, said:
The new road layout at this busy, historic junction targets a reduction in the number of queuing vehicles and idling engines. The aim is to improve the local environment and air quality for local residents and all users of the junction. We will make sure that everyone continues to be kept informed as we approach the conclusion of this scheme. This latest event provides an excellent opportunity to view the design in detail.
County Councillor Zoe Metcalfe, Member for Knaresborough and chair of the Bond End Steering Group, which represents the county, borough and town councils, said:
I would like as many residents as possible to come along to the event to see the designs. It’s a sign of the progress we’re making. The steering group and the officers are working extremely hard to make this project happen and we are getting closer to starting the work.
The work is part of a programme of schemes funded from the Government’s National Productivity Investment Fund, a £5.1m sum secured by the County Council to improve local roads and public transport. Work on the new layout will begin later this year.
