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21
Dec 2022
Work on £69m Kex Gill realignment delayed until January
Work on a £69 million plan to realign the A59 at Kex Gill has been delayed until January.
The project will see a diversion built west of Blubberhouses on a stretch of road blighted by a history of landslips
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 attributes to inflation affecting constructions costs.
Despite hopes the scheme could start in December, the county council now says work is due to start in January.
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire County Council said the authority was awaiting full business case approval from the Department for Transport for the project.
They said:
Read more:
- Council warns of ‘high risks’ as Kex Gill cost soars to £69m
- Council sets aside £11m for A59 Kex Gill contingency funding
The authority awarded a £50.7 million to John Sisk & Son (Holdings) Ltd, an Irish civil engineering and construction firm, to build the scheme.
The project is due to 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 £68 million budget to cover any issues with ground conditions or bad weather.
It comes as senior county council officials have warned about the risk involved with the authority’s major projects amid soaring inflation.
Gary Fielding, the council’s director for strategic resources, warned previously that the “burden of risk” for major projects, such as the realignment of the A59 at Kex Gill, will fall on the authority amid soaring inflation.
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.
The estimated completion date for the scheme is May 2025.
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