Cracks force closure of historicbridge for nearly two months

ONE of North Yorkshire’s oldest bridges is undergoing major repairs to bring it back up to strength after cracks were spotted in its supporting arches.

Oakdale Bridge in Harrogate, which carries Penny Pot Lane (C187) over the Oak Beck to the west of Harrogate, is to be closed for nearly two months.

The cracks in the bridge, which is a Grade II listed two span masonry arch, have been monitored over a period of time by North Yorkshire County Council.

Tests have shown that the cracks were getting worse and that the bridge required urgent attention, officials said.

The county council’s highways contractors will also undertake parapet repairs and general repointing and resurfacing. The work, which began last week, will continue for a further seven weeks.

County Councillor Gareth Dadd, North Yorkshire’s executive member for highways, said yesterday: “These major repairs will restore the bridge’s strength and condition to carry current volumes of traffic for years to come.

“Contractors will make every effort to complete the work as quickly and efficiently as possible to keep disruption to a minimum.”

Access across the bridge will remain for pedestrians and a signed diversion route is in place for motor vehicles, using the B616 via Beckwithshaw onto the B6162 and then Harlow Moor Road.

Meanwhile, with the Sutton Bank section of the A170 closed for the next five weeks, a number of events at the National Park Centre have been cancelled, although it remains open.

Visitors who usually travel via Thirsk will need to follow signed diversions but those travelling via Helmsley will be able to follow their normal route.

Tomorrow, the centre will host a free astronomy evening with York Astronomical Society. The event starts at 6.30pm.

However, the decision has been made to cancel a craft fair planned for the weekend of October 23/24 and a drop-in children’s Halloween craft activity due to take place on October 25.

Jacqui Abrahamsen, the North York Moors National Park Authority’s Visitor Centres Manager, said: “I appreciate that the road closure will add a few more minutes to the journey time for some of our visitors but I hope this won’t deter them from calling in.”