Communication received from National Highways. We appreciate the previous experiences you may have had during any previous work, especially with traffic using Melsonby and East Layton as shortcuts. Here’s what we’re doing to address this

What We’re Doing:

1. Diversion Routes: While we can’t stop people using Sat Nav’s, we’ve informed all key stakeholders including the haulage community, of the appropriate diversion routes and the routes are available on our website; along with comprehensive signage which will be deployed in the area.
2. Traffic Monitoring: We will monitor traffic in Melsonby and East Layton to manage any issues promptly where possible. We have traffic count data from our monitoring of the A66 and this is why the work has been planned to be carried out over-night when traffic is at its lowest.
3. Night-Time Closures: The A66 westbound will only be closed from 8 pm to 6 am, when there is less traffic. This should reduce the risk of shortcuts and allows us to keep the road fully open during the day.
4. Signage: We’ve already put up signs on the A66 to let drivers know about the closures and diversions and we will be installing further temporary signage around the villages to discourage people using it as a short cut.
5. Safety: We’re conscious of the safety concerns for school children and elderly residents. The night-time work will help reduce potential risks since fewer cars would have been using the A66 and and therefore will not potentially use unofficial alternative routes.
6. Minimising Shortcuts: By doing the work at night, we aim to keep the A66 fully open during the day, encouraging drivers to use it instead of cutting through local villages.

Working with the Community:

• We appreciate your offer to share data from your speed cameras. This will help us understand traffic patterns and the impact of the project going forward.

Moving Forward:

• Updates: We’ll keep the community updated on traffic and any changes to the project plan.
• Feedback: Please keep sharing your observations and data. This will help us make timely adjustments to reduce disruption.

We know this project may cause inconvenience, and we’re committed to working with you to minimise its impact on Melsonby and East Layton. Together, we can ensure everyone’s safety during this necessary work.

Thank you for your understanding. If you have any questions or need help, please contact our support desk https://nationalhighways.co.uk/help-centre/