A landslip-hit road in Pateley Bridge which has undergone lengthy repairs has finally reopened.
Temporary traffic lights were installed on the B6265 at Red Brae Bank, Bewerley, after storms caused a landslip in February 2020.
The route then closed to traffic in October last year when North Yorkshire County Council began a £480,000 scheme to stabilise the road, which is on the steep slope out of Pateley to Greenhow Hill.
The road was initially due to reopen on December 16 but the date was then pushed back to January 18 and then to today.
The council has now reopened the road to traffic with temporary lights in place for a further two weeks.
Chris Hawkesworth, a local resident who lives near the road, said it was a relief for those in the area.
He said:
“Everybody on the hill is much relieved.
“It was a 20-mile round trip for what would ordinarily a one mile trip.”
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The authority said the £480,000 scheme had taken longer than anticipated as workers needed to “increase the depth and length of the excavation to lay the foundations” for the repairs.
The county council hired Cumbria-based Thomas Armstrong (Construction) Ltd to undertake the work at a cost of £232,040 – though it said it had to factor in any contingencies into the final cost.
The Stray Ferret asked the county council whether the delays in completing the scheme would lead to any further incurred costs.
Melissa Burnham, highways area manager for the council, said:
Landslip-hit Pateley Bridge road finally set to reopen on Friday“In the design process for every scheme we must account for contingencies in the final cost.
“At Greenhow Hill we are carrying out drainage works and stabilising the slope below the road and new structure. In this instance the contractor valuation came in lower than anticipated and although the scheme is still ongoing it is likely to stay under budget.”
A Pateley Bridge road affected by a landslip three years ago is finally set to reopen on Friday.
Temporary traffic lights were installed on the B6265 at Red Brae Bank, Bewerley after storms caused a landslip in February 2020.
The route then closed to traffic in October last year when North Yorkshire County Council began a £480,000 scheme to stabilise the road, which is on the steep slope out of Pateley to Greenhow Hill.
The road was initially due to reopen on December 16 but the date was then pushed back to January 18.
Numerous local residents, including former Pateley town councillor Chris Hawkesworth, have contacted the Stray Ferret expressing frustration over the length of the works and lack of information about when it will reopen. Many face lengthy detours to get in and out of Pateley Bridge.
This week Ken Easton, who lives in Wilsill but drives to work in Grassington, said the detour was costing him an extra £150 a week in fuel.
Mr Easton also said his vehicle suffered a burst tyre and cracked wheel this week when he hit a pothole on the Two Stoops route to Grassington.
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Andrew Murday, the Liberal Democrat county councillor for Pateley Bridge and Nidderdale, told the Stray Ferret earlier this month he could understand people’s frustration but the project was “geologically difficult” and progress was subject to weather conditions.
North Yorkshire County Council’s highways area manager, Melisa Burnham, previously said:
“Work has taken longer than anticipated as it became clear that we needed to increase the depth and length of the excavation to lay the foundations. Final works involve reconstructing the surface of the road.”
A North Yorkshire County Council spokeswoman said yesterday:
Frustration over delay completing Pateley Bridge roadworks“The recent wet weather has caused a delay and the reopening is now planned for Friday, January 27.”
A Pateley Bridge resident has expressed frustration at a delay in the completion of major roadworks in the town.
Temporary traffic lights have been on the B6265 at Red Brae Bank, Bewerley since storms caused a landslip in February 2020.
In October, North Yorkshire County Council began a £480,000 scheme to stabilise the road, which is on the steep slope out of Pateley to Greenhow Hill — the highest point in the Harrogate district.
The road was due to close on October 17 and re-open on completion of the work on December 16. But it remains closed , with the scheme now set to continue for at least another fortnight.
Former Pateley town councillor Chris Hawkesworth, who lives nearby, said he had been unable to find out why the scheme had been delayed and when it would be completed.
Mr Hawkesworth said large vehicles that ignored road closed signs and then turned on the narrow, steep hill had damaged his farmhouse wall and post box.
He said local people had to make an 11-mile detour to get into Pateley Bridge even though it is less than a mile away and businesses in the town were losing customers because of problems accessing the area.
Chris Hawkesworth on the B6265 near his house.
He added some couriers refused to deliver in the area and rubbish was going uncollected. He said:
“I can’t get any answers from anybody.
“I am glad the road is being sorted but you don’t expect this amount of chaos and lack of communication around it. We are supposed to be a sophisticated country.
“Some businesses in Pateley are more than 50% down on their takings.”
Andrew Murday, the Liberal Democrat county councillor for Pateley Bridge and Nidderdale, told the Stray Ferret he had spoken to Mr Hawkesworth about the matter.
Cllr Murday said the project was “geologically difficult” and had proved trickier to resolve than expected but it was a major scheme that was close to completion.
He said he understood how frustrating it was and sympathised with those affected, adding one delivery lorry had got stuck on the minor road Peat Lane when the driver tried to find a shortcut around the diversion. Cllr Murday said
“Of course people are going to complain and they are extremely inconvenienced and some businesses are being put under stress over it.”
January 18 completion — depending on weather
North Yorkshire County Council’s highways area manager, Melisa Burnham, said:
“Reconstruction work on Red Brae Bank, between Greenhow and Pateley Bridge, is coming to an end. This is essential work however we appreciate the disruption the lengthy closure has caused, and we are grateful for the patience of all road users.
“Our contractors created a path to allow access for pedestrians and cyclists during the Christmas and New Year period.
“Work has taken longer than anticipated as it became clear that we needed to increase the depth and length of the excavation to lay the foundations. Final works involve reconstructing the surface of the road.
“We expect the road to reopen on Wednesday, January 18. All works are weather dependent so we will keep the public updated if there are any changes to the schedule.”
Nidderdale road to be repaired – nearly three years after storm damage
Work is scheduled to begin on Monday to reconstruct a road near Pateley Bridge — two-and-a-half years after it was damaged by storms.
The section of the B6265 at Red Brae Bank, Bewerley, suffered a landslip when storms in February 2020 caused the land below the roads to subside.
Since then, the road has been kept open because of the introduction of a weight limit and temporary traffic lights.
Cllr Keane Duncan, North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for highways and transportation, said:
“Following extensive ground investigations and negotiations with the private landowner, we are now able to undertake this work to stabilise the land, reconstruct the carriageway and improve the drainage of the road and the land supporting it.
“When this is complete, we will be able to remove the temporary traffic lights and the weight limit.”
The £480,000 scheme will involve stabilising the top of the slope next to the road, reconstructing the carriageway, repairing the highway drainage and stabilising, drainage and landscaping work on the slope below the carriageway.
The work is expected to take nine weeks, with a planned completion date of Friday, December 16.
The scheme requires the road to be closed from October 17 to December 9.
A diversion will be in place via Pateley Bridge; the B6451 Dacre; Menwith Hill Road; Duck Street and Greenhow Hill village.
Temporary traffic lights will be in place during the remainder of the work.
Cllr Andrew Murday, county councillor for Pateley Bridge and Nidderdale, said:
“We have been waiting for these repairs to be done for a long time. The closure will be very inconvenient for people, but the work needs to be done and when it is complete people will feel the benefit.”
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