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27
Mar 2023
Concern over tree felling as part of Kex Gill reroute
Concern has been raised over tree felling as part of the £69 million Kex Gill realignment.
The project, which is North Yorkshire County Council’s most expensive and ambitious, will reroute a landslip-blighted road between Harrogate and Skipton.
As part of the scheme, the authority has started to clear woodland off the A59.
However, residents have raised concern that the move is “disproportionate” to the highways project.
Sheenagh Powell, who lives nearby, said the move was “distressing”.
She said:
However, county council officials have defended the move and said site clearance had been undertaken now to avoid the bird nesting season.
A spokesperson added:
Read more:
- Kex Gill: A project seven years in the making
- Minister ‘open’ to inflation funding discussions for A59 Kex Gill
- Government gives final go-ahead for £69m Kex Gill reroute to start
The A59 at Kex Gill, near Blubberhouses, is the main route between Harrogate and Skipton. Since 2000, the route has been closed 12 times following landslips.
Ministers at the Department for Transport gave the final go-ahead for the route last month.
The move will see the road rerouted to the west of Blubberhouses and is expected to be completed in May 2025.
The scheme has faced numerous delays and, following tender returns, the estimated cost of the scheme increased by £7.2 million to £68.8 million, which the council attributed to inflation affecting constructions costs.
The project will be funded by a £56.1 million grant from the Department for Transport, with the council covering the rest from its reserves.
A further £11 million has been factored into the budget to cover any issues with ground conditions or bad weather.
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