North Yorkshire County Council is reminding drivers to heed warning signs and not go onto closed roads as a handful of flood-related road and bridge closures remain in force around the county.
Work is continuing to inspect and reopen closed sections of road as soon as it is safe to do so.
Ella Bridge on the C100 between Tollerton and Newton on Ouse was inspected yesterday (Tuesday, 19 January 2016) and has been found safe to be reopened. However, Linton Bridge in the same area remains closed as it cannot yet be inspected by divers because of the undercurrent in the river. The river flow will be reassessed tomorrow and divers are ready to inspect the bridge as soon as it is safe to do so.
A clean-up operation was competed today on the B1222 and the road, including Cawood Bridge, was reopened this afternoon.
Elsewhere in the county, the A59 at Kex Gill remains closed as work starts to drain water from an area of instability at the top of the slope above the road. This work is expected to take up to six weeks.
Tadcaster Bridge remains closed. Repair is expected to take about 12 months to complete. The County Council is working with partners to put an alternative footbridge in place.
County Councillor Don Mackenzie, Executive Member for Highways, said:
Our highways teams are working to both inspect the remaining closures and then to reopen roads as soon as it is safe to do so.
In the meantime, it is vital that drivers follow signposted diversions and do not drive through closures or take alternative diversions which may not be suitable for the type of traffic that would use the closed road. We understand closures and diversions can cause inconvenience, but they are for the safety of road users, which is always our top priority.
Following some recent closures, there have been instances of drivers removing and even vandalising signs and barriers to drive through closures or avoid diversions. This not only puts them at risk, but also other drivers who may follow them, unaware that a road is closed. It could also lead to emergency services having to get involved at a time when they have plenty of other things to attend to.
Other roads currently closed as a result of flooding include:
- The U428 at Harkerside, near Reeth, which will remain closed until the road can be investigated when it dries out
- Hamhill Lane, Scruton
- Church Street, Norton
- Hoodstorth Lane
- Marsh Lane between Cawood and Wistow
- Ramparts Back Lane at Bolton Percy
- Buttercrambe, bridge closed pending inspection by engineers.
As the situation changes, updates are posted on the County Council’s website at www.northyorks.gov.uk/flooding, where there are also updates on the major projects at Tadcaster and Kex Gill.
