A MAJOR upgrade of the A64, including safety work where four pedestrians died, is to be carried out this spring.

Highways England will start work in March as part of a £22 million investment along the A64.

The four-month project will include widening the carriageway, creating right turn lanes, introducing five new traffic islands and footpath and improving the layout of junctions.

One of the key locations for safety work is at Crambeck, where four pedestrians were killed while crossing the road in two separate accidents within a month.

In May 2017, Julie Gough, and her partner, Dave Tinker, died while crossing the 60mph road near Crambeck, where they lived. Then, on June 23, 2017, Charles McLaughlin and wife Judith, 58, were also killed while crossing the A64 to Jamie’s Cragg Holiday Park where they were living.

Elsewhere on the A64, Highways England is installing “village gateways” between Welburn and Staxton. The gateways are characterised by features like “welcome to” entry signs asking people to drive carefully, and the circular sign showing a lowered speed limit through the villages.

There will also be coloured road surfacing, lane narrowing and clear boundaries for drivers, as well as extra signage.

The work, due to run until the end of the year, includes extending the 30mph speed limit in Rillington, lowering the speed limit to 30mph in Sherburn and to 40mph in Rillington Fields, West and East Heslerton, Potter Brompton, Ganton and Staxton.

The speed limit will come down

to 50mph in Welburn and Crambeck, Huttons Ambo, Scagglethorpe, Scampston and West and East Knapton.

Highways England project manager Chris Dunn said: “This vital work will improve safety for drivers using the A64. The improvements are part of our wider investment to enhance journeys and safety for the thousands of people who use this route every day.

“Most of the work will be done during the day, although there will be some overnight closures and the use of overnight traffic lights.”

For more information, go to highwaysengland.co.uk/programmes/a64-maintenance-improvements or phone 0300 123 5000.