Traders’ relief at A64 Brambling Fields junction progress (From Gazette & Herald)

Traders’ relief at A64 Brambling Fields junction progress

3:36pm Wednesday 19th September 2012 in News

BUSINESS owners in Norton and Malton have welcomed the partial re-opening of the A64 Brambling Fields junction.

The westbound entry and exit slip roads, along with the B1248 were reopened on Friday afternoon with the eastbound due to open this week.

Deputy mayor of Norton, Ray King, who owns Corks and Cans in Commercial Street, Norton, said it was a great relief.

“It has been an absolute nightmare and really has had an effect on the economy of the town as people have stayed away,” he added.

“Already there has been a positive increase in business with customers coming in that we have not seen for while.”

Mike Williams, of Castle News in Castlegate, Malton, said he had seen a reduction in the traffic congestion since Friday.

“It is just a pity it has taken them so long to get it finished and I hope that trade will pick up again now, he added.

“We have been open 25 years but have put off holding any celebrations until the work was completed, so finally we can now look at doing something.”

A spokesperson for the Highways Agency said: “The Highways Agency has been working to complete the Brambling Fields junction improvement scheme and open the Brambling Fields junction as soon as possible.

“The westbound lane one closure and westbound entry and exit slip roads, along with the B1248, were reopened on Friday afternoon and the diversion route via Malton and Norton removed. As a result, traffic travelling towards Scarborough is now being diverted westbound on the A64 to Pickering Interchange, before rejoining the A64 eastbound.

“The eastbound entry and exit slip roads at Brambling Fields junction are due to reopen this week, subject to weather conditions, once barrier and top-soiling works are completed. Work on Brambling Fields access lane is expected to be completed by early October, again dependent on the weather.”