A59 closed again at Kex Gill

The study of British and Irish roads - their construction, numbering, history, mapping, past and future official roads proposals and general roads musings.

There is a separate forum for Street Furniture (traffic lights, street lights, road signs etc).

Registered users get access to other forums including discussions about other forms of transport, driving, fantasy roads and wishlists, and roads quizzes.

Moderator: Site Management Team

User avatar
stu531
Member
Posts: 2332
Joined: Thu Jun 20, 2002 23:10
Location: Harrogate

Re: A59 closed again at Kex Gill

Post by stu531 »

Stevie D wrote:
Bryn666 wrote:Presumably a route to the south.

Now in a mad dream world it would connect with the Harrogate southern bypass and be the foundations of the eastern length of the M65 wouldn't it...
The last proposal that I saw was for it to run up the north side of the gorge, with the new road only running between Blubberhouses and the top of the hill.
The first few posts on this thread detail where the route is (I think) proposed to go.

What's interesting here is that there is current talk of a Northern Bypass at Harrogate. If both Kex Gill and the Northern Bypass go ahead, the A59 will be seen as an increasingly viable alternative to the M62, and traffic volumes will no doubt increase over a time. In this case, those parts of the A59 that are seen as pinch points - such as Gisburn and Salisbury - may see some kind of further upgrade, or even A56 improvements.
User avatar
Bryn666
Elected Committee Member
Posts: 35717
Joined: Thu Jun 20, 2002 20:54
Contact:

Re: A59 closed again at Kex Gill

Post by Bryn666 »

I think any hope of improvement on the A59 west of the A56 is mostly dead these days. That said a Gisburn bypass would be handy.

The really rubbish bits of the A59 between the M6 and A1(M) are just that; they let the whole route down as it is mostly good.
Bryn
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.

Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
User avatar
hat
Member
Posts: 251
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2010 11:25

Re: A59 closed again at Kex Gill

Post by hat »

User avatar
wrinkly
Member
Posts: 8984
Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2008 12:17
Location: Leeds

Re: A59 closed again at Kex Gill

Post by wrinkly »

Bryn666 wrote:That said a Gisburn bypass would be handy.
And its eastern approach is there!
User avatar
hat
Member
Posts: 251
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2010 11:25

Re: A59 closed again at Kex Gill

Post by hat »

been closed again yesterday following the detection of movement on the hillside. Bit worrying given that there has been no significant rainfall in the area for weeks.
User avatar
stu531
Member
Posts: 2332
Joined: Thu Jun 20, 2002 23:10
Location: Harrogate

Re: A59 closed again at Kex Gill

Post by stu531 »

It adds to the business case for rerouting to the north. It's been over the Harrogate Advertiser & Yorkshire Post and at this rate, it'll bring the construction forward.
Repmobile
Member
Posts: 330
Joined: Sat Jun 13, 2009 14:48
Location: North Yorkshire

Re: A59 closed again at Kex Gill

Post by Repmobile »

According to the latest on the North Yorkshire County Council website today, it looks like it will be closed again tomorrow (1st June):
Initial investigations have been carried out today by specialist consultants alongside County Council engineers. These have confirmed that there is evidence of movement and that further investigations will be required. These will be carried out tomorrow to ascertain what action is needed.

In the meantime, the road will remain closed and a diversion will be in place via Ilkley and Otley.
https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/news/arti ... e-kex-gill

I am now wondering just why I volunteered to take my daughter over to see her friends in Skipton tomorrow!

Oh well, it looks like it will be via Otley and all points west!
NICK 647063
Member
Posts: 1716
Joined: Sun Nov 28, 2004 17:48
Location: Leeds

Re: A59 closed again at Kex Gill

Post by NICK 647063 »

been closed again yesterday following the detection of movement on the hillside. Bit worrying given that there has been no significant rainfall in the area for weeks.
I suspect the movement could be caused by the dry weather, it is quite common for the ground to move and crack with dry weather luckily most of Yorkshire seems to have missed these heavy downpours, the only rain we had in all of may was a wet Friday last week, I guess the big issue here would be if we did get one of these heavy downpours now movement is detected here.
Robert Kilcoyne
Member
Posts: 966
Joined: Sun May 28, 2017 11:41
Location: Birmingham

Re: A59 closed again at Kex Gill

Post by Robert Kilcoyne »

If the A59 has to be closed at Kex Gill for a significant period, I would expect that Harrogate to Skipton traffic would be diverted via the A61, A658, A660 and A65, but this could cause a major congestion issue for HGV's at Pool Bank, in addition to extra traffic in Ilkley town centre.
User avatar
Stevie D
Member
Posts: 8000
Joined: Wed Dec 20, 2006 17:19
Location: Yorkshire

Re: A59 closed again at Kex Gill

Post by Stevie D »

Robert Kilcoyne wrote: Fri Jun 01, 2018 11:51 If the A59 has to be closed at Kex Gill for a significant period, I would expect that Harrogate to Skipton traffic would be diverted via the A61, A658, A660 and A65, but this could cause a major congestion issue for HGV's at Pool Bank, in addition to extra traffic in Ilkley town centre.
As you enter Pool from the Harrogate side, the signs for Skipton direct you along the A659 through Otley rather than up Pool Bank. I don't know whether they will try to override that with diversion signs.

Drivers in the know can use B6165 and B6265 if the route through Ilkley proves too slow, but given the nature of these roads they would be totally unsuitable as the main diversion route.
Repmobile
Member
Posts: 330
Joined: Sat Jun 13, 2009 14:48
Location: North Yorkshire

Re: A59 closed again at Kex Gill

Post by Repmobile »

Kex Gill is going to be closed all this weekend now:

https://www.strayfm.com/news/local-news ... l-weekend/
User avatar
Norfolktolancashire
Member
Posts: 1185
Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2007 22:34
Location: Cornwall

Re: A59 closed again at Kex Gill

Post by Norfolktolancashire »

Stevie D wrote: Fri Jun 01, 2018 12:36
Robert Kilcoyne wrote: Fri Jun 01, 2018 11:51 If the A59 has to be closed at Kex Gill for a significant period, I would expect that Harrogate to Skipton traffic would be diverted via the A61, A658, A660 and A65, but this could cause a major congestion issue for HGV's at Pool Bank, in addition to extra traffic in Ilkley town centre.
As you enter Pool from the Harrogate side, the signs for Skipton direct you along the A659 through Otley rather than up Pool Bank. I don't know whether they will try to override that with diversion signs.

Drivers in the know can use B6165 and B6265 if the route through Ilkley proves too slow, but given the nature of these roads they would be totally unsuitable as the main diversion route.
If you have time, the route north from Harrogate to Skipton via Pateley bridge and Grassington is a lovely, if slow, route going through the Dales. At least in summer; I drove it one winters night following one of the regular Kex Gill closures and found my car skidding all over in the snow as it reaches 1000 feet just west of Pateley bridge.!
Repmobile
Member
Posts: 330
Joined: Sat Jun 13, 2009 14:48
Location: North Yorkshire

Re: A59 closed again at Kex Gill

Post by Repmobile »

A bit of an update from a couple of days ago:

https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/n ... -1-9204109

Quote:

The closure of a stretch of the A59 will continue as North Yorkshire County Council investigates the cause of a crack in the road. NYCC closed the road at Kex Gill almost two weeks ago after the discovery of the eight meter crack, but on Monday was able to have specialist equipment delivered to the site. The evidence collected with the ‘coring rig’ will help determine how the council proceeds. However it has been announced today that it will take the rest of this working week to do this, and the road will remain closed. Once this is done the council has said it will look at all options, including re-opening one of the carriageways with temporary traffic lights in place until permanent repairs are carried out.

So, it could take a while yet before it even reopens, let alone fully open.
User avatar
hat
Member
Posts: 251
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2010 11:25

Re: A59 closed again at Kex Gill

Post by hat »

I read elsewhere that it will be up to 3 weeks before they can even look at the potential of opening one lane.

I like how they have named the poor people who are manning the alternative roads they don’t want people to use, ‘ambassadors’. I’m not even sure if they have any legal right to stop someone using a public road unless there is a closure notice in force?
Repmobile
Member
Posts: 330
Joined: Sat Jun 13, 2009 14:48
Location: North Yorkshire

Re: A59 closed again at Kex Gill

Post by Repmobile »

From North Yorkshire County Council Website a couple of days ago:

https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/news/arti ... 9-kex-gill
The A59 is an important trans-Pennine route between Skipton and Harrogate, but has a history of instability and land movement in the Kex Gill area. This has led to closures over the years and the road is currently closed for repairs after movement was detected at the end of May.

Realigning the route to the other side of the valley is part of the County Council’s strategic transport plan to improve east to west connections between the east coast and Humber ports and Lancashire. In autumn last year, a public consultation drew more than 600 responses, of which more than 90 per cent supported the need to do something to realign the road.

Since then, there have been extensive ground investigations and environmental surveys and discussions are taking place with local householders and landowners to understand day-to-day business and personal transport needs. The County Council is now in a position to publish its proposed preferred alignment.

County Councillor Don Mackenzie, Executive Member for Highways, said: “The current closure highlights how important it is to realign the A59 at this point. It is vital for local businesses and residents and the county’s wider economic growth. We received a supportive response to our public consultation and are moving ahead as quickly as possible. We want to engage local people throughout the process, keeping them informed and listening to their views, so I hope people will take advantage of this opportunity to examine and comment on the proposals.”

Plans will be on show at a public event on Saturday, 30 June, at Norwood Social Hall, Broad Dubb Road, Norwood, Harrogate, HG3 1TE. Members of the public can drop in at any time between 10am and 3pm. County Council officers and the authority’s consultants, WSP, will be on hand to discuss the proposals and visitors can make written or verbal comments on the plans.

The information will also be available online and people can email comments to LTP@northyorks.gov.uk. Anyone unable to access the internet can call 01609 780780 or write to Transport Planning Team, Business and Environmental Services, North Yorkshire County Council, County Hall, Northallerton, DL7 8AD.

County Councillor Stanley Lumley, local member and a member of the Kex Gill steering group, said: “This route is very important for business and tourism and vital to our economy. We know the impact the current closure is having. As we move forward with realigning the road, we want to be sure we have the best solution, so I hope people will attend the public event if they can or visit our website and share their comments on the proposals.”

The closing date for comments is 12 July 2018. Comments will be reported to the County Council’s Executive, which will be asked to decide on the adoption of the preferred route at its meeting on 24 July. The County Council is in discussion with the Department for Transport and, subject to the Executive’s decision, a full business case for funding will be produced, with the start of construction anticipated in the financial year 2019/20. It is estimated the road could take 14 months to complete.

Incidentally from the local news, it could be another 2 or 3 weeks before Kex Gill reopens partially:

http://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/news/162 ... ree_weeks/

THE A59 at Kex Gill between Skipton and Harrogate could re-open to single lane traffic only in about three weeks.

Work to repair the road, which was closed on May 30 after a large crack appeared in the surface, got underway on Monday.

It is hoped that the road will be opened partially in three weeks time, or less, with temporary traffic lights, and in time for the Great Yorkshire Show, which is due to start on July 10.

However, it is likely that the road will have to be closed again to make permanent repairs - but after consultation with businesses in the area.
User avatar
hat
Member
Posts: 251
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2010 11:25

Re: A59 closed again at Kex Gill

Post by hat »

Sounds like they are trying to push forward the realignment. I’m sure the public consultation is just a box ticker
User avatar
stu531
Member
Posts: 2332
Joined: Thu Jun 20, 2002 23:10
Location: Harrogate

Re: A59 closed again at Kex Gill

Post by stu531 »

Here's the proposed alignment.

From this site.

I'm hoping they can get on with this as quickly as possible; it's always going to be open/closed given the way things have been over the last few years.
User avatar
hat
Member
Posts: 251
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2010 11:25

Re: A59 closed again at Kex Gill

Post by hat »

I wonder what will happen to the existing road once this is complete? Presumably it will be fully closed on safety grounds and be allowed to crumble away.
NICK 647063
Member
Posts: 1716
Joined: Sun Nov 28, 2004 17:48
Location: Leeds

Re: A59 closed again at Kex Gill

Post by NICK 647063 »

I do think they just need to push forward with the realignment on the A59 here, it just seems everything takes years and years to sort out, the main issue here is that since April the area has had very little rain, in fact next to nothing, certainly zero in the last 2 weeks the ground is now bone dry, the major issue here is going to be when it does finally rain again going from bone dry to wet can cause big issues on any ground but especially in a location like this that is prone to movement.
User avatar
Bryn666
Elected Committee Member
Posts: 35717
Joined: Thu Jun 20, 2002 20:54
Contact:

Re: A59 closed again at Kex Gill

Post by Bryn666 »

At least it's not on fire...
Bryn
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.

Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
Post Reply