Major bypass repairs still on track despite funding questions

As the area's highways authority, NYCC is planning for a spring start to a massive scheme of works to the ailing road. It says it will be on site as soon as possible once weather conditions have improved, most likely in early April.

County Hall has been carrying out an enhanced inspection and 'reactive repair regime' to keep the bypass in a safe condition for road users over the winter months. 

County Councillor Gareth Dadd (Con, Thirsk), executive member for highways, said "We are committed to undertaking this work. Because this major route has an important part to play in promoting the long-term economic prosperity of Selby, easing congestion and supporting the flow of transport around the district.

"We too share the concerns and frustration of the public about the very poor state of the bypass, especially along particular stretches."

News of the repairs come after Nigel Adams MP (Con, Selby & Ainsty) instigated an online campaign to have the bypass repaired. The petition gained the support of over 1,000 local residents.

He said, "I am delighted that the county council is to start the repairs shortly. The road has been in a very bad state for too long and I know that residents and road users will be relieved when the surface is finally put right."

The reasons behind the crumbling surface of the beleaguered bypass appear to lay in the materials used by the Highways Agency's contractors in the construction of the road's lower layers. This means that permanent repairs to the road will have to be structural and therefore very costly.

But it would seem that there are still questions unanswered over who will be made to foot the bill for the decaying state of the road with County and Highways officials still at loggerheads. 

The County Council says it is 'making progress' in discussions with the Highways Agency over funding the repairs but warn that implementing any fix without the prior agreement of the Agency could seriously undermine the aim of carrying out the works without cost to the Council.  

"Though the negotiations with the Highways Agency continue," said Cllr Dadd, "there is no doubt that these structural repairs will be undertaken. We will push ahead as soon as the weather allows and all preparations are in place."

Tour de Yorkshire

News of Selby's successful bid to host a start for this May's Tour de Yorkshire, appears to have hastened County Hall's resolve to make sure that the bypass works get started on as quickly as possible and ramain on-track.

The Council says it does not want to jeopardise the success of the prestigious event for the town and will be working closely with Welcome to Yorkshire to ensure that all necessary routes remain open to traffic and the expected surge in visitor numbers for Selby during the event.

Cllr Dadd said, "It is a great privilege and good for Selby to be a start location for the Tour de Yorkshire, so we will coordinate the works for this necessary repair so the town is more than ready to make a great success of this exciting event."

The timing of the Selby bypass works programme also has to take account of other developments and highways projects in the district, such as the major improvements to be carried out on Newland Bridge, which takes the A645 over the River Aire and is one of the main access roads to Drax Power Station. Work on the bridge is expected to start in spring 2015 to be completed during the winter of 2015/16.