Delayed new bypass set to open in early September

A major new road in North Yorkshire is expected to open "in the next few weeks", according to a councillor with responsibility for the scheme.

The £82m Kex Gill bypass, near Blubberhouses, will replace a section of the A59 which has suffered 15 landslips since 2000, forcing its closure on numerous occasions.

Construction began three years ago but the project has faced several delays blamed on adverse weather conditions.

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).

Malcolm Taylor, who oversees highways at North Yorkshire Council, said: "When this road is closed there are very few options.

"It's really important for the economy, for tourism, for all the commuters that travel from both counties."

He said £82m had been allocated for the scheme - the biggest North Yorkshire Council has ever undertaken - which remained on budget despite delays.

The Department for Transport provided the majority of the funding, with the local authority contributing the remaining amount, he added.

"We have got a little bit of work to do but in the next few weeks we will be open to traffic," said Taylor.

"This will make a big difference to this part of the world. Nobody wants this road open more than we do."

The three-mile (4.8km) route across had previously been expected to be opened by late 2025 but was pushed back to spring 2026 before further delays.

Taylor said: "This has its own microclimate up here. We are very high above sea level.

"It has its own water problems in winter. We had about 30-odd consecutive days of rain in January and February this year which really did get in the way of engineers who were doing this project."

Pressed for a date, Taylor said he the council was working to a timescale of early September.

Lauren Luck, regional engineer at Sisk, who have undertaken the work, added: "We are in an absolutely beautiful area but that comes with difficulties when that comes with construction."

Luck said the new road had been "moved to an area that was more stable", reducing the likelihood of landslides causing closures and long diversions in future.

Her colleague, Katharine Bollard-Wilkes, said the project would result in a 10% Biodiversity Net Gain, meaning the local environment would be improved.

The scheme had also created walkways, bridleways and access routes for farmers, she added.

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