Roadworks on Harrogate’s Skipton Road due to last another 24 days

The latest round of roadworks on Harrogate’s Skipton Roads is due to continue for more than three weeks.

Three-way lights are in operation close to the junction with Sykes Grove.

Although the work is taking place during the school holidays, when the road is less busy, it is still causing delays on one of Harrogate’s main roads.

Three-way lights are in place.

Northern Gas Networks, which is responsible for distributing gas to homes and businesses, is replacing metal pipes with plastic pipes.

Scott Kitchingman, operations manager at Northern Gas Networks, said:

“We have been carrying out essential work to ensure the continued safe and reliable supply of gas to customers in the Skipton Road area of Harrogate and we are now on the final section of the road. We are scheduled to complete on August 25.

“The ageing metal pipework is being replaced by new, more durable plastic pipes, to ensure a safe and reliable supply of gas to customers now while getting the network ready to transport alternative greener fuels in the future.

The view heading towards New Park roundabout.

Mr Kitchingman added:

“So that engineers can carry out the work safely and efficiently, and to protect the public, some traffic management measures are in place. We have multiway lights and a lane closure for the duration of the work.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused; we are however working on Saturdays to try to get the work done as quickly as possible.”


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Traffic delays on the A61 through Killinghall and Ripley

Drivers have been hit by significant traffic delays through Killinghall on the A61 today as new roadworks have been put in place.

Work has started on the A61 Ripon Road between Ripley and Killinghall.

One Stray Ferret reader contacted us to say they’d left Markington for Harrogate at 12.30pm and had only got as far as the second roundabout in Ripley where the works just over an hour later.

Drivers have also reported being stuck in long queues through Killinghall.

According to OneNetwork roadworks map, temporary traffic lights are in place as Quickline Communications, which is a broadband company, carries out “utility asset works” at Ripley roundabout.

This is due to remain in place until Wednesday, July 26.

Drivers are urged to avoid the area due to long queues.

Meanwhile, queuing traffic has also been reported at New Park roundabout in Harrogate.

According to the roadworks map, Northern Gas Networks has started repair work on Skipton Road near to New Park Academy. Temporary traffic lights are expected to be in place until August 25.


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Harewood Bridge to be closed for four weeks from this week

Harewood Bridge near Harrogate will be closed on Wednesday for four weeks.

The bridge will close at 7am on July 26 until 6am on August 24 for essential maintenance work to be carried out.

The grade-II listed structure carries the A61 Harrogate Road over the River Wharfe and is a busy route between Harrogate and Leeds.

Leeds City Council is set to close the bridge in order for waterproofing, resurfacing and footpath repair works to be carried out.

The footway across the bridge will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists throughout the work.

Advanced signs for the closure will be in place before the bridge is shut.

Cllr Helen Hayden, the council’s executive member for infrastructure and climate, said previously:

“Harewood Bridge is a strategic vehicle crossing used by thousands of people each day and therefore to close it requires careful planning. By carrying out the repair works during the school summer holidays we can hopefully limit the disruption with expected lower traffic levels.”


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A diversion route will be in place during the work from Otley Road, Arthington Lane, Main Street, Pool Bridge, Harrogate Road, Swindon Lane and onto Harrogate Road. 

The same route will be in place in the opposite direction.

Reduced speed limit at A59 Kex Gill to remain until September

A reduced speed limit on the A59 at Kex Gill is set to remain in place until September due to an “uneven road surface”.

North Yorkshire Council has introduced the reduction which sees the speed limit lowered from 60 to 40 miles per hour.

Officials at the authority said the measure had been implemented due to the stretch of Kex Gill Road being uneven.

It added that the speed limit reduction will remain in place until September when the road will be closed for two weeks and resurfaced.

Barrie Mason, assistant director for highways and transport at the council, said:

“We have introduced a 40mph speed limit on a section of the existing A59 at Kex Gill due to the uneven road surface. This will only be in place until we carry out a resurfacing scheme.

“A start date is yet to be confirmed but we anticipate early September, lasting for two weeks under full road closures with signed diversions in place. We will notify the public in due course.”


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Roadwork misery on Ripon Road due to end tomorrow

Roadworks that have caused over a week of long tailbacks in the north of Harrogate will be completed tomorrow, ahead of schedule, the utility company responsible has said. 

Works at the junction of Ripon Road and Coppice Drive started on June 19 and reduced one of the town’s main arterial roads to a trickle of traffic, moving in one direction at a time and directed by temporary three-way traffic lights — causing misery for motorists. 

Northern Gas Networks said they were “part of our essential works programme to ensure the continued safe and reliable supply of gas to customers”, but added that the road would be cleared for two-way traffic on Thursday. 

Mark Mawhood, operations manager at NGN, told the Stray Ferret today:  

“Upon starting the work, we realised that there were some unforeseen engineering difficulties and we therefore sought an extension to complete the works until July 7. We are pleased, however, that, using a different technique, work has finished today. The filling in of holes and laying tarmac will be completed tomorrow and then all traffic management will be removed. 

“Once again, apologies for any inconvenience caused and bearing with us. Safety is our first priority and works can sometimes take longer than anticipated depending on any problems that may arise. We have been working closely with North Yorkshire Council throughout the process and keeping them informed of our developments.” 


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Road closure continues after gas pipe problem found in Knaresborough

A diversion in Knaresborough is set to remain in place until Monday after a problem was discovered with a sewage pipe.

Yorkshire Water closed Halfpenny Lane to deal with a pipe under the surface, and had planned to reopen it yesterday.

However, the work has taken longer than expected and the diversion via Boroughbridge Road and Chain Lane remains in place. A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said:

“Unfortunately, the works on Halfpenny Lane have been delayed after we found other utilities networks in the excavation, which prevented us from completing the work safely.

“Northern Gas Networks and Northern Powergrid have been to the site to assist with their networks and carry out work to enable our teams to complete our repairs safely. We have worked closely with local council highways teams to keep disruption to a minimum and are working hard to finish the work and reopen the road as soon as possible.”

A spokesperson said the excavations revealed a gas pipe had been placed through the top of the sewage pipe.

Until the gas pipe can be moved, the hole will be filled in. Once the gas repairs have been carried out at a date to be confirmed, Yorkshire Water will return to complete the work to the sewage pipe, which is still operational.


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Meanwhile, temporary traffic lights on Boroughbridge Road have been adding to traffic problems in the area.

They are linked to a new housing development and have been in place since mid-March.

While they are due to end tomorrow, a further day of works for fibre broadband is expected to hit the road near Greengate Lane on Sunday, along with two days of resurfacing work from Tuesday morning. Both will involve temporary traffic lights.

The traffic problems caused by extensive roadworks in the area have led some residents to question why so many restrictions were allowed to be put in place at the same time.

North Yorkshire Council’s corporate director for environment, Karl Battersby, said:

The roadworks on the A6055 have been in place for a number of weeks and are developer works as part of a new housing development and are due to be completed on Friday (June 16).

“The nearby Yorkshire Water works are emergency repairs due to a collapsed sewerage pipe that needed to be fixed immediately.

“We could not have foreseen that there would emergency works ongoing when the permit was issued for the resurfacing works on the A6055.

“We appreciate that roadworks near each other create additional delays for road users, but once the developer works are completed, it will ease the situation until Yorkshire Water can complete its emergency repairs.”

Knaresborough junction to be closed from this weekend

Four weeks of roadworks will begin in central Knaresborough this weekend as Northern Powergrid installs new electricity cables.

The work will take place on King James Road and York Place from Saturday, May 27.

With a trench set to be dug in the carriageway on King James Road, its junction with York Road will be closed until Monday, June 5.

Temporary three-way traffic lights will be installed, with a barrier around a temporary footpath, at the junction.

Work will also be carried out on the pavement between the pedestrian crossing and the footpath towards the cemetery.

From June 5, the junction will be reopened under four-way temporary lights until the expected completion date of Tuesday, June 20.

Northern Powergrid’s connections delivery project engineer Richard Appleyard said:

“Investment work is vital to connect customers to our network and although unavoidable, we do appreciate it can be very disruptive and every effort will be made to keep this disruption to a minimum.

“Our teams will endeavour to ensure access is maintained to properties in the area at all times and we thank local residents and the local community for their patience and co-operation whilst the connection work takes place.”

The company said it had notified nearby customers, including King James’s School and Knaresborough Swimming Pool, about the plans.

The new Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre is currently under construction adjacent to the existing swimming pool, with work expected to continue until its opening date in November. The old pool is set to be closed in September for the final phase of the project.

For more information about the road closures, contact Northern Powergrid on 0800 011 3332 or email generalenquiries@northernpowergrid.com.


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Harrogate’s Victoria Avenue to close overnight for pothole repairs

Harrogate’s Victoria Avenue will be closed overnight for two nights this week as roadworks are carried out.

The road will be closed from 6pm until 11pm on Wednesday (May 24) and Thursday (May 25).

Parking bays on Victoria Avenue will also be suspended.

The move comes as North Yorkshire Council’s highways department is set to carry out work on the road.

It will see potholes filled on the street.

According to the council’s roadworks map, the authority will “renew 20 patches” as part of the work.


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Bond End roadworks in Knaresborough due to end on Friday

Roadworks causing misery for motorists in Knaresborough are due to end on Friday.

Traffic lights have been causing severe delays at Bond End since May 2.

The roadworks paused last weekend for the coronation but returned yesterday, causing tailbacks in all directions.

Electricity distribution company Northern Powergrid is laying underground electricity cables to support the redevelopment of Dower House Hotel, which is due to reopen this year under the new name The Knaresborough Inn.

A Northern Powergrid spokesperson said:

“As part of the investment scheme, traffic management is in place until Friday 12 May while the company digs to lay the new electricity cables.

“We apologise for any inconvenience this may be causing to residents and businesses, and although unavoidable, we can appreciate it is very disruptive. All work and traffic management was agreed with the appropriate local authority and permits granted to carry out the necessary work.

“Traffic management helps to enable safe access for engineers to carry out their work, and for residents and motorists alike.”


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Flaxby roadworks set to continue until June

Motorists are set to face five more weeks worth of delays on the A59 at Flaxby as ongoing roadworks are set to continue until June.

Work is being carried out by Power On, which is installing a high voltage circuit to provide power supply to a new business park in the area.

The cable is being installed along the verge of the A59 heading east towards A59/A1M junction.

Temporary traffic lights are in place at the site, which are in manual operations between 7.30am and 5pm, as well as one lane closure.

A spokesperson for Power On said:

“We do apologise for any inconvenience this may cause the public.

“We will complete the works as soon as possible whilst keeping the traffic flowing as much as possible, maintaining the safety of our operatives and the public as our number one priority.”


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The spokesperson added that the work is due to run up to June 1, but are expected to be completed a week ahead of schedule due to “good progress made thus far”.

It comes as a section of the project saw roadworks in Shortsill Lane in Coneythorpe.

The work forced the Tiger Inn pub in the village to close for five weeks at the start of the year.

At the time, Barbara Gill, who owns the Tiger Inn, said the pub was already dealing with the cost of living crisis – which has seen its energy bills increase to more than £4,000.

She said:

“These road works are the final kick we didn’t need.”

Power On said the work in Coneythorpe was completed ahead of schedule in March.