Highways Agency

• Major maintenance
• in hellifield

A65 Gargrave and Hellifield Major Maintenance

Major Maintenance

Leaflet Published in March 2003

Introduction

The A65, from Skipton to M6 Junction 36, is a busy trunk road connecting the conurbations of Bradford, Leeds and other towns in West Yorkshire to the South Lakes and Cumbria. It skirts the western edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and serves as a major route of regional and local importance catering for the needs of business, commerce, leisure and tourism, as well as commuter and local shopping traffic.

Essential maintenance work is now urgently needed on the A65 through the village of Gargrave, to keep the route operational and able to meet the demands of heavy traffic.

This website explains what is proposed.

Why The Work Is Needed

The Highways Agency continuously monitors the condition of the trunk road network. Recent survey work has shown that the strength of the road has deteriorated to a point where urgent work is needed to ensure it can meet the demands of the heavy traffic loads.

The current traffic flow is in excess of 10,000 vehicles per day, with a significant number of heavy goods vehicles [9%].The surface condition is also poor with evidence of surface cracking and crazing. The ride quality is adversely affected and the worn out surface will lead to increased noise and the risk of skidding if it is not replaced.

What Is Proposed

The works will involve taking out the existing material to a depth which varies between 150 mm and 275 mm along the length of road to be repaired. This will be replaced with high performance bituminous material and one of the new noise reducing surface layers.

The use of the new high performance materials reduces the depth of reconstruction whilst maintaining maximum strength and durability and has the added benefit of reducing the time taken to carry out the work. The new quieter surfacing will benefit road users and local people living and working along the route, by reducing noise and also by reducing spray in wet weather. In noise terms it will be equivalent to halving the traffic flow.

When Will The Work Be Carried out

The works are programmed for this Spring, and are phased around the busy Bank Holiday periods. Work will commence after the May Day Bank Holiday on 7th May, with final completion on 14th July, and is split up into a number of manageable phases to minimize disruption. During the Spring Bank Holiday all works will be suspended and the road will be open to traffic as normal.

Phase 1

will extend from the 30mph limit on Skipton Road to the west of Gargrave village, through to its junction with North Street. It will be necessary to completely close the A65 for up to 15 days from 7th May to 21st May to complete this section.

Phase 2

will include a section of High Street from its junction with North Street to its junction with East Street. This phase will commence after the Spring Bank Holiday on 28th May until 4th June and will necessitate a total closure of the A65 for up to 8 days.

Phase 3

will comprise the section of Skipton Road on the west side of the village from Anchor Bridge to the 30 mph limit. Commencing after the Spring Bank Holiday on 5th June this phase will take up to 11 days, with expected completion on 15th June. During this phase the A65 will be kept open, operating under an alternating one-way working system, controlled by temporary traffic signals.

Phase 4

This final phase will comprise that length of Skipton Road from its junction with East Street to the Johnson and Johnson factory on the east side of the village. Commencing on 16th June the phase is expected to last for up to 4 weeks with completion on 14th July. During this phase the A65 will be kept open, operating under an alternating one-way working system, controlled by temporary traffic signals.

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Diversion Route

During the periods when the A65 is fully closed, as described above, a diversion route will be fully signed in both directions. Traffic travelling east will be diverted at Long Preston onto the A682, south to Gisburn. At Gisburn traffic will be signed east along the A59 to rejoin the A65 at Skipton at the A59/A65/A629 roundabout. The same diversion route will operate for westbound traffic.

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How We Will Minimise Inconvenience

We have carefully considered the options for carrying out this work safely, with minimum inconvenience to local residents, businesses, and road users. The works have been split into phases to help control things and allow different strategies to be developed for each section.

At some locations along this length of A65 the road is too narrow to safely allow the road to be kept open whilst the work is being carried out. During these phases a long distance diversion route will operate, but local access will be maintained to the village, and to the nearby village of Malham, with local signing and parking arrangements put in place.

Access will be maintained through the works to the village for Emergency Services (Police, Fire and Ambulance).

The Contractor, Cumbrian Industrials Ltd, is very experienced in this type of work. We will work in partnership with the Contractor and the Design Agents, the Highway Consultancy, to help resolve any specific problems that may arise. A public liaison officer will be appointed.

During the full road closures the Contractor will work from 7.30 am until 10 pm seven days a week to ensure the earliest possible completion. Overnight working will not be permitted to ensure residents in frontage property can enjoy a good night's sleep. During the one-way working periods weekend working will be suspended.

The bus service along the A65 would follow the diversion route when the A65 is closed. During these periods a free shuttle bus service will be provided along the A65 to maintain a public transport facility between Skipton and Long Preston, linked to the bus operators schedules. The free service will operate either side of the closed section of road as necessary to serve the local residents living along the route and in the villages of Gargrave, Coniston Cold and Hellifield.

Your Feedback and Exhibition Dates

The Highways Agency is keen to let people know what we are proposing and to hear their views.

Exhibitions showing the proposals will be held in :-

Gargrave Village Hall, West Street

Please try to attend the exhibitions

If you are unable to attend please contact Rob Goulding at the address given below.

Further Information

Rob Goulding
Highway Consultancy
Winckley House
Cross Street
Preston
PR1 8RD

Tel 01772 263757

Roy Wood
Highways Agency
Sunley Tower
Piccadilly Plaza
Manchester
M1 4BE

Tel 0161 930 5686