Kex Gill: majority of new road ‘on track’ to open next week, council says

The majority of the new A59 realignment at Kex Gill is expected to open early next week, marking a major milestone in the £82.5m project between Harrogate and Skipton.

North Yorkshire Council has confirmed that the final sections of asphalt surfacing, safety barriers, road markings, reflective cat's eyes and verge topsoiling are almost complete.

A short overnight closure of around 10 minutes will be needed on Monday, August 24, and into Tuesday, as traffic is transferred from the existing carriageway onto the new road.

The council said the closure would take place when traffic levels are at their lowest and would allow the site team to safely reposition the traffic management before reopening the route.

The announcement comes after motorists reported significant delays at Kex Gill last week.

Ed Page, from Harrogate, said he was caught in delays while travelling to the town on Sunday, August 16.

He said: “There were serious problems for motorists coming from both sides. Reports of delays over 100 minutes to pass a tiny stretch of road.”

Another motorist, Kathleen Roberts, said she had experienced similar delays the previous Friday.

She said: “We waited 45 minutes just to get to the first traffic light on the Harrogate side.”

North Yorkshire Council said it had not received any complaints relating to traffic issues at Kex Gill on Sunday, August 16.

The council's corporate director of environment, Karl Battersby, told the Harrogate Advertiser the temporary traffic lights were “constantly monitored” and that signal timings were frequently reviewed by the council's contractor.

Once the new road is open, work will continue on the eastern and western tie-ins, as well as the reconstruction of Church Hill.

The council said the remaining works will reduce the gradient of the existing embankment, improve access to the Fewston Reservoir car park and create a safer, more accessible route for all users.

The tie-in works will continue under temporary traffic lights.

The 4.2km road is being built to replace the existing landslip-prone section of the A59 and forms part of the major £82.5m highways project.

The council said the new route will provide a safer and more reliable journey between Harrogate and Skipton.