Bridge repairs at Dales tourist haunt

VITAL bridge repairs will be carried out during the height of the summer tourism season in one of the most popular destinations in the Yorkshire Dales.

North Yorkshire County Council has confirmed that contractors will carry out a 12-week programme of work costing £100,000 to Park Bridge in Swaledale from July 2.

But a council spokeswoman stressed the work needed to be carried out over the summer as concreting cannot be done in sub-zero temperatures. A consultation with residents and businesses had been conducted to chose the period which would minimise disruption. New concrete beams will be installed as the edges of the bridge, which takes Stonesdale Lane over the River Swale near Keld, are in poor condition. New steel parapets will also erected and the road surfacing over the bridge will also be repaired and replaced. The council confirmed that it has been necessary to phase the works so that only one side of the bridge is replaced at a time to cause minimum disruption. The road will be closed for a maximum of two days towards the end of the resurfacing works, and traffic will be diverted via the road to England’s highest pub, the Tan Hill Inn.