‘Gateway to Dales’ moves a major step forward

Members of North Yorkshire County Council’s executive met yesterday to back the use of CPOs to ensure proposals for the A684 bypass for the market town of Bedale become a reality.

While planning permission has yet to be secured and a public inquiry is likely to be held before the bypass can be built, it is hoped construction on the £42.4m project could begin in the autumn of 2014.

The CPOs as well as Side Road Orders, which are necessary to link the new bypass to the existing highways network, will have to be made this summer to ensure the timescale is adhered to.

Highways chiefs confirmed they are now considering the finer details of the tendering process which they hope will secure the best deal possible from the beleaguered construction industry.

The county council’s director for highways, David Bowe, said: “We are looking at any opportunity that presents itself which might mean that we save ourselves both time and money.

“The construction industry has gone through a tough time recently and a lot of firms are very keen to get work in the current economic climate.

“The overall development will not change, but we are looking at the possibility of tendering for the detailed design and construction, which could lead to speeding up the time-frame of work and potential savings as well.”

The bypass has been heralded as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” and is seen as key to slashing traffic congestion and providing better access to the northern parts of the Dales.

The scheme would dramatically improve transport links to key destinations such as Wensleydale, and market towns including Leyburn and Hawes. It is estimated the financial benefits outweigh the cost of the bypass by roughly six-to-one.

The Government announced in December last year that it would provide £35.9m in funding – nearly 85 per cent of the projected overall costs – leaving the council to foot the outstanding amount.

Councillors agreed in January to find the outstanding £6.5m for the road scheme. However, they warned the authority may still have to pull the plug on the bypass if costs escalate as it battles to make £69m in savings.

The bypass has been mooted since the mid-1990s, but the project has been blighted by delays and was put on hold in June 2010 after the coalition Government came to power.

The proposed bypass would run for just under three miles from Northallerton Road, on the eastern outskirts of Leeming Bar, to a new junction on the A684 near Bedale Golf Club.

Traffic flow on the existing road is about 14,000 vehicles every day, causing tailbacks in Bedale as well as Leeming Bar and Aiskew. It is estimated a bypass would cut traffic flow through Bedale by half while reducing pollution and improving road safety. Access to the A1M would also be boosted, with improved access to the Leeming Bar industrial estate.

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