Council bosses have blamed the weather for delays in reopening the A684 in lower Wensleydale after repairs.
The road is currently closed between Leyburn Road in Constable Burton and the Wild Hill Lane and Chapel Lane junction near Finghall.
The work was due to be completed this month after an 11-week closure, but road bosses say they now hope to have the work finished by March 10.
North Yorkshire Council’s corporate director for environment, Karl Battersby, said: “This scheme will protect a key route in the area for the long-term and it is important that it is carried out correctly.
“Unfortunately, the recent heavy rain has slowed progress, leaving the ground waterlogged, which means we haven’t been able to keep to the original timetable.
“We now expect the project – which includes digging down to repair the road, installing new drainage and resurfacing – to be completed by March 10.
“The road is closed between Patrick Brompton crossroads and Constable Burton and everyone affected was informed of the plans and timescales in November.”
The delays, which mean the road will be shut over the February half-term, have angered Leyburn businessman Richard Warne, who runs Inspired Chocolate on Leyburn Business Park.
He said: “This will be three months it’s been shut, destroying Christmas trading and now half term too. Visitor numbers are decimated due to the closure — we hardly see a soul.
“How in earth do they expect tourism businesses to survive this?
They cannot even be bothered to put some signage highlighting that businesses are still open. To get to the business park from Leyburn you have to drive through multiple road closed points.
“Are they oblivious, or just don’t care about the damage they are causing to livelihoods and jobs.”
In response to the criticism, Mr Battersby said business ‘open as usual’ signs were in place at each end of the closure, with an additional sign in Leyburn Market Place and others between Leyburn and Constable Burton.
“We are grateful for everyone’s patience and will continue to monitor progress and update people if anything changes,” he added.
The road has been shut for drainage and highways repairs.
Comments are closed.
Well looking at the photo at the beginning of this report the drainage work is not going to stop the flooding on this stretch of road without lifting up the road to a higher level out of the flood water.
I also can’t understand why the road level leaving Wensley bridge going toward West Witton couldn’t be raised up over the flood water level with under passes for the flood water the same as the approach road to Middleham Bridge about two miles down stream which has never flooded in 76 years that I’ve seen.
Maybe some money spent in the right places may improve travelling in these many flood conditions we seem to be having many more of,
And in the meanwhile the roads from Spennithorne through Finghall are being completely mangled.