Wait finally over for reopening of bridge

The Skipton-on-Swale bridge, which carries the A61 in a single carriageway across the River Swale between Thirsk and Ripon, has been closed since October with motorists left infuriated by delays caused by the diversions in place.

The work was expected to be completed by December 5, but was delayed after the damage to the stonework was found to be much more extensive than originally thought.

Construction workers were also hampered by severe weather conditions with temperatures over the worst of the cold snap plunging to nearly minus 20C.

Councillor Gareth Dadd, North Yorkshire County Council executive member for highways, said: "It was only possible to carry out a total inspection of the structure once the bridge was closed.

"As a result of what was discovered, the stonemasons had to adopt different repair techniques that were more time consuming to carry out but will result in much more of the original fabric of the bridge being retained.

"As well as having to adopt new techniques, the contractors also encountered heavy snow and temperatures of minus 19C.

"They responded by operating 12-hour days, seven days a week, and by deploying additional workers both on site and for the production of stone at the quarry off site."

The grade II listed bridge has been fully restored using a lot of the stone which it was originally built with and the county council says the quality of workmanship has been praised by English Heritage.

The bridge was due to re-open at 4pm yesterday.

Skipton-on-Swale bridge was built in 1823 by architect John Carr who designed a number of beautiful buildings across the county.