Landslip-hit road reopens ahead of schedule

Contractors removed more than 2,000 tonnes of debris from the road

A major road which has been closed since a landslide in the early hours of New Year's Day has reopened earlier than scheduled.

The slippage on the A59 resulted in a closure between Hardisty Hill and the junction with Kex Gill Road, between Harrogate and Skipton, with a long diversion in place.

Work to remove 2,000 tonnes of debris and install new drainage channels and stabilise the area had been due to be completed by the 29 January, however North Yorkshire Council said contractors had finished on Thursday.

The closure was the 15th on the road since 2000 and the council said it emphasised the "importance of delivering" the £68m scheme to bypass the area which is due to open in 2026.

The road is a key east-west route linking Harrogate and Skipton, and provides a route across the north of England between junction 31 of the M6 and junction 47 of the A1(M).

Cafe owner Kate Bailey said the closure has impacted her businesses and those of her suppliers

The closure has had an impact on businesses in the area, such as the Dalesway Cafe on the A59 near Skipton.

Owner Kate Bailey said she relies on custom from HGVs, which were diverted through Ilkley and Otley during the closure.

"The majority of our trade are truck drivers, unfortunately they can't get to us as the diversion is just down the road."

She said she had cut staff hours down and let two members of staff go temporarily until the road reopened.

Mrs Bailey said the road had been closed for seven months out of the last 14 and she was "incredibly relieved" it had opened again.

"Part of me just hopes it doesn't happen again, we just can't have it happen again."

The council's executive member for highways and transportation Keane Duncan said he would like to thank people for their "patience" during the work.

"This was the 15th closure since 2000 and emphasises the importance of delivering our £68m scheme to bypass this problem area and avoid disruptive closures happening in future."

The realignment of Kex Gill is the authority's largest ever highways project.

It involves creating a new 2.5 mile (4km) stretch of road to replace the existing part of the A59 which has been affected by the landslips.

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