The A59, which is the main route between Harrogate and Skipton, will close at Kex Gill at 6.30pm tonight (Friday, February 2).

North Yorkshire Council said it was for safety reasons after a crack on the verge, which appeared last week, got worse.

It announced the news shortly before 3.30pm today — just three hours before the closure comes into effect.

The council statement said:

It added "a signed diversion will be in place during the closure and highways teams will carry out a repair as soon as possible".

However, it did not say how long it expects the road to be closed or where the detour is. With the area served by few roads, it is likely to cause considerable extra journey times for motorists.

The council said it "hopes to have further information next week regarding the length of time the closure will remain in place".

A three-mile section of road at Kex Gill, near Blubberhouses, is being built on the landslip-prone A59 — although the current road has remained open until now.

The highway is being re-aligned in a £68.8 million scheme aimed at preventing further landslips.

The Department for Transport is providing grant funding of £56.1 million and the remaining £12.7 million has been allocated from North Yorkshire Council’s capital reserves.

Read more:

• Traffic lights on A59 at Kex Gill after ‘small crack’ appears


• Concern about inflation on £68.8m Kex Gill road scheme