WORK is under way to create roundabouts at both ends of the Bedale bypass as part of the first phase of the £42m scheme.

North Yorkshire County Council said most of the roundabout work, which is expected to finish before autumn, was not expected to cause delays, moves to link the A684 Northallerton to Bedale road with the roundabouts would require continuous traffic management and result in some tailbacks.

The linking works on the sections of the A684, which are used by about 14,000 vehicles a day, are expected to take place in June and July and last for about four weeks.

The authority said every effort would be made to keep delays to a minimum and further details would be publicised when the dates are confirmed.

Today and tomorrow (Monday, April 13 and Tuesday, April 14), a two-way traffic control system will be operated between 9am and 4pm on the A684 Northallerton Road, near Spring House Farm, to install duct crossings to enable Northern Powergrid diversions which are required as part of the works.

A council spokesman said: “The Bedale bypass will greatly reduce congestion in Bedale, as well as Leeming Bar and Aiskew.

“There will obviously be some disruption caused by construction works but our contractors will make sure that this is kept to a minimum.”

The Bedale bypass will be about three miles long, from Northallerton Road, on the eastern outskirts of Leeming Bar, to a new junction on the A684 near Bedale Golf Club.

The council has estimated the bypass, which is expected to open in autumn 2016, will cut traffic through Bedale by half.