View source for A1237 road

{{short description|Part of the ring road around York, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2013}}
{{Infobox road
| country=GBR
| type=A
| route=1237
| map=
| image=  A1237 Roundabout - geograph.org.uk - 715745.jpg 
| image_notes= Roundabout at the junction of A1237 and Strensall Road
| length_mi= 10
| direction_a= North East  
| terminus_a = {{jct|country=GBR|A|64|noshield1=|nolink1=yes }} junction (Hopgrove)
| direction_b= South West
| terminus_b = {{jct|country=GBR|A|64|noshield1=|nolink1=yes }} Junction (Copmanthorpe/Askham Bryan)
| junction =  {{jct|country=GBR|A|59|noshield1=|nolink1=yes }}<br>{{jct|country=GBR|A|19|noshield1=|nolink1=yes }}
| destinations=  
}}

The '''A1237 road''' is a road that runs to the west and north of the city of [[York]], [[England]]. It forms part of the [[York Outer Ring Road]] as either end of the route forms junctions with the [[A64 road|A64]] to the south-west and east of the city to act as a city distributor. Construction began in 1984 and consisted of three distinct building phases. The road took three years to complete and has been subject since to studies looking to improve traffic flow and reduce accidents. The National Speed Limit for an A Class Road applies.

==History==
[[File:A1237 York outer ring road during construction - geograph.org.uk - 1609829.jpg|thumb|A1237 York outer ring road during construction near junction for Acomb, Acomb Park and Askham Bryan]]
An outer ring road for York had been proposed as far back as 1948 by members of York City Council's Civic Committee. The scheme proposed by Adshead, Needham and Minter was grander in scale than currently exists. The northern section, based on junctions with the old A64 route, would have started clockwise from the current A64 eastbound turn-off to [[Askham Richard]] and [[Bilbrough]]. It would have passed to the north west of [[Nether Poppleton]] and [[Skelton, York|Skelton]]. It would still run south of [[Haxby]] and [[Wigginton, North Yorkshire|Wigginton]], but continue more easterly than the current road to rejoin the A64 north of [[Stockton-on-the-Forest]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://yorkcivictrust.co.uk/uploads/civic/mainsite/downloads/1948-Plan-for-the-City-of-York-final.pdf|title= 1948 Plan for the City of York|publisher= York Civic Trust|access-date= 26 Nov 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160804203513/http://yorkcivictrust.co.uk/uploads/civic/mainsite/downloads/1948-Plan-for-the-City-of-York-final.pdf|archive-date= 4 August 2016|url-status= dead|df= dmy-all}}</ref>

The case for a solution to the increasing traffic management issues in the centre of the city of York during the 1960s were primarily to aid the local tourism industry. The first proposals were for an inner ring road that would be a dual carriageway. This met opposition as it would call for demolition of homes and many archaeological sites. This resulted in a public inquiry in 1972 that backed the inner ring road proposal, but the decision remained with the Secretary of State for the Environment, who eventually ruled against it in 1975, by which time the construction of the dual carriageway '''A64''' was nearly complete.<ref>{{cite book|title= Planning for Tourism: Towards a Sustainable Future (CABI Tourism Texts)|editor = Nigel D Morpeth & Honliang Yan|publisher= CABI|year= 2015 |isbn = 1-78064-458-2}}</ref>

The inner ring road proposals were in contrast to 1958 report for the Minister for Housing and Local Government and the local council, by [[Lionel Brett, 4th Viscount Esher|Lord Esher]], entitled ''York: A Study in Conservation''. This attempted to address modernising four English cities without undue impact on their heritage. The York Corporation, in contrast, still maintained their preference for the inner ring road, though this was subsequently limited to the current layout around the outside of the city walls.<ref>{{cite book|title=York in the 1960s: Ten years that Changed a City|author= Paul Chrystal|publisher= Amberley Publishing Ltd|year= 2015|pages= 101–104|isbn= 1-4456-4096-1}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title= Conservation and traffic: A Case Study of York|author= Nathaniel Lichfield & Alan Proudlove|publisher= Sessions Book Trust|year= 1976|pages= 23, 51 & 54|isbn= 0-900657-23-5}}</ref>

To cater for the numerous proposed developments on the outskirts of York, such as Clifton Moor, the decision was taken to construct a road to the west and north of York to link to the A64. This came out of evidence given to the 1972 Public Inquiry into the proposed new Inner Ring Road. Studies conducted by [[Reuben Smeed|Professor Smeed]] indicated an Outer Ring Road with radial roads was the best solution.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.faxfn.org/geoffbeacon/pdf/Evidence%20to%20York%20Inner%20Ring%20Road%201972.pdf|title= Evidence to York Inner Ring Road 1972 Public Inquiry|access-date=27 Nov 2016}}</ref>

The '''A1237''' was the second part of the outer ring road and was constructed in three phases some 11 years after the first part, the ''A64 York Bypass'', was completed. This was due to different organisations being responsible for the two roads and their strategic planning. The first phase of construction started in 1984 on the northern section between the '''A19''' and the '''A64'''. It opened in 1986. Phase two and three started construction in 1985 with the second and third sections opening the following year in September and December respectively. Phase two was between the '''A64''' and the '''A59''' and phase three was the short section between the '''A59''' and '''A19'''. This section took longer to construct due to it having to cross the [[River Ouse, Yorkshire|River Ouse]] and the [[East Coast Main Line]]. Phase three was opened by the [[Secretary of State for Transport]] [[Paul Channon]] on 11 December 1987.

==Route==
[[File:Cycle crossing for A1237 - geograph.org.uk - 1707852.jpg|thumb|Cycle crossing for A1237 near junction for Acomb, Acomb Park and Askham Bryan]]
This is a single carriageway road, and has twelve roundabouts. Starting at the western end going clockwise, the road begins as one of the exits from the grade separated junction with the '''A64''' exit for [[Copmanthorpe]], [[Askham Bryan]] and York North. The last 1 mile section ends with the double roundabout at Hopgrove that links Malton Road and the A1237 with the '''A64''' to complete the York Outer Ring Road.

{{RJL|date=December 2021}}
{| border=1 cellpadding=2 style="margin-left:1em; margin-bottom: 1em; color: black; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
|- align="center" bgcolor="green" style="color: yellow;font-size:120%;"
| colspan="4" | '''A1237 Road'''
|- align="center" bgcolor="000000" style="color: white"
| Clockwise exits
| Junction type
| Distance from previous roundabout
| Anti-clockwise exits
|- align="center"
| Askham Fields Lane
| Roundabout
|
| A64 (East and Westbound)
|- align="center"
| Askham Bryan Lane
| Roundabout
| 1.2 miles
| Askham Lane &<br>Moor Lane
|- align="center"
| B1224 westbound to Wetherby
| Roundabout
| 1.4 miles
| B1224 eastbound to Acomb
|- align="center"
|  
| Give way
|
| Main Street, Knapton
|- align="center"
| Moor Lane
| Give way
|  
|  
|- align="center"
| A59 westbound to [[Knaresborough]]
| Roundabout
| 1.2 miles
| A59 eastbound to Acomb
|- align="center"
|  
|  Roundabout
| 0.7 miles
| Great North Way<br>Millfield Lane
|- align="center"
| A19 northbound to [[Skelton, York|Skelton]] 
| Roundabout
| 0.8 miles
| A19 southbound to [[Clifton, York|Clifton]] &<br>Rawcliffe Bar Park & Ride
|- align="center"
|  
| Roundabout
| 0.8 miles
| Clifton Moor Gate
|- align="center"
| B1363 northbound to Wigginton
| Roundabout
| 0.7 miles
| B1363 southbound to York &<br>Stirling Avenue 
|- align="center"
| Haxby road northbound to Haxby 
| Roundabout
| 0.8 miles
| Haxby Road southbound to New Earswick 
|- align="center"
|  Strensall Road northbound to Earswick 
| Roundabout
| 0.7 miles
|  Strensall Road southbound to Huntington
|- align="center"
|  North Lane eastbound 
| Roundabout
| 0.7 miles
| Monks Cross Link &<br>North Lane westbound
|- align="center" 
| Malton Lane eastbound &<br>A64 eastbound to [[Malton, North Yorkshire|Malton]] 
| Roundabout
| 1 mile
| Malton Lane westbound to York 
|}

==Improvements==
===Implemented===
In 2009 the roundabout with Malton Lane and the Hopgrove roundabout was improved by adding extra lanes and Traffic signals.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2009 A64 Hopgove Roundabout Improvement|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/3126/made|url-status=live|access-date=10 June 2021|website=Legislation.gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610101749/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/3126/made |archive-date=10 June 2021 }}</ref>

In 2011 the roundabout on the '''A19''' junction was upgraded at a cost of £1.2M and took about 12 weeks. Access and exits were widened; improved crossings; resurfacing and improved lighting and signage were done.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/8751530.Work_to_start_on___1_2m_upgrade_to_outer_ring_road_junction/|title= Outer Ring Road improvements|publisher= Southern Daily Echo|author= Claire Bottomley|date=22 Dec 2010|access-date= 27 Nov 2016}}</ref>

In 2014, the roundabout that formed the junction between the ring road and the '''A59''' was improved by York City Council in time for the 2014 Tour de France Stage 2 to pass over it.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.york.gov.uk/press/article/1382/decision_session_ces_capital_program_report|title= CES Capital Program Report|publisher= City of York Council|access-date= 27 Nov 2016}}</ref>

In 2015 the City Council in partnership with North Yorkshire Police, Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Joseph Rowntree School created a shared cycle/footpath by the ring road between the Haxby Road and Wigginton Road roundabouts.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.york.gov.uk/press/article/1267/new_cycle_track_officially_opens|title=New cycle track opens|publisher= City of York Council|access-date=27 Nov 2016}}</ref>

In 2018 the roundabout with B1224 was replaced with a larger one. The new roundabout has wider access and exits;  improved crossings; new signage and  new lighting added.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/all-news-and-blogs/news-archive/york-ring-roads-wetherby-road-roundabout-improvement-complete/|title=York ring road's Wehterby Road roundabout improvement complete|publisher=West Yorkshire Combined Authority|accessdate=18 October 2021}}</ref>

===Proposed===
Several bodies have proposed improvements to the A1237 including:<ref>{{Cite web |title=York Outer Ring Road Flythrough |url=https://youtube.com/gbbujc7ITq8 |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=YouTube |language=en}}</ref>

*Dualling the road by 2030 as detailed in the North Yorkshire Strategic Prospectus.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/recruitment/highways_and_transport_service/docs/strategic_transport_prospectus_exec_summary.pdf|title= North Yorkshire Strategic Prospectus|publisher= North Yorkshire County Council|access-date= 27 Nov 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161128051539/http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/recruitment/highways_and_transport_service/docs/strategic_transport_prospectus_exec_summary.pdf|archive-date= 28 November 2016|url-status= dead|df= dmy-all}}</ref>
*In the West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund (York Schemes), improvements to seven roundabouts between the Wetherby Road and Monks Cross junctions. The design includes ensuring room for future dualling of the carriageways; increasing the number of approach and exit lanes at the roundabouts; enlarging their diameter; three subways for pedestrians/cyclists at busy crossing points and two bridges to accommodate a widened road.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/uploadedFiles/Content/Transport/WYPTF/York-meet-the-buyer-schedule.pdf|title=West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund (York Schemes)|publisher=West Yorkshire Council|access-date=27 Nov 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827165910/http://westyorks-ca.gov.uk/uploadedFiles/Content/Transport/WYPTF/York-meet-the-buyer-schedule.pdf|archive-date=27 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*On 3 March 2015 the Executive of York City Council resolved to progress Option 1 of the report into improvements to the York Outer Ring Road. This was to carry out the work recommended in the West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund (York Schemes)<ref>{{cite web|url= http://democracy.york.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?Id=4311|title=York Outer Ring Road Improvement Scheme|publisher=City of York Council|access-date= 27 Nov 2016}}</ref>
*On 12 October 2022 plans were submitted by the [[City of York Council]] to convert a 4.6-mile (7.5&nbsp;km) section of the A1237, between the A19 Shipton Road and the A1036 at Little Hopgrove, into a dual carriageway.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-63227784|title=York: £65m outer ring road dual carriageway plan submitted|publisher=BBC News|access-date= 13 Oct 2022}}</ref>

===Rejected===
Congestion immediately became a problem, especially at peak times, and the 1989 [[Department for Transport]]'s [[Roads for Prosperity]] white paper included improvements to the section between ('''A19''' to the '''A64'''). The proposals were for a new continuous through-route running parallel to the existing road with just a single grade separated junction at the [[B1363 road|B1363]]. The existing road, and the roundabouts, would have been retained for local access. The plans were subsequently dropped.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/nationwide-list-of-the-dropped-schemes-1432864.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100508163234/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/nationwide-list-of-the-dropped-schemes-1432864.html |archive-date=2010-05-08 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |title=Nationwide list of dropped schemes|publisher= The Independent|date= 30 Mar 1994|access-date=27 Nov 2016}}</ref>

Plans for dualling 7.8&nbsp;km, at a cost £31M, of the A1237 York Outer Ring Road were rejected by the Regional Transport Board in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.bettertransport.org.uk/roads-nowhere/map-text|title= Better Transport UK|publisher= Campaign for Better Transport|access-date= 27 Nov 2016}}</ref>

==Traffic studies==
Congestion at peak times remains an issue and has led to studies that show that delays at all junctions will lead to an increase in journey times ranging between two and three times longer compared to 2003. A study from March 2001 and February also recorded 172 accidents, of which 21 were serious and 5 involved a fatality.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://democracy.york.gov.uk/Data/Executive%20Member%20For%20Planning%20&%20Transport%20and%20Advisory%20Panel/20050628/Agenda/a1237_outer_ring_road_improvements_study_annex_1.pdf|title=A1237 Outer Ring Road improvements study (Annex 1)|publisher= City of York Council|access-date= 27 Nov 2016}}</ref>

==References==
{{commons category}}
{{reflist}}

{{GB A road zone 1}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1-1237}}
[[Category:Ring roads in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Roads in Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Transport in York]]