MOTORISTS are breathing a sigh of relief following yesterday's (Sunday) slightly delayed reopening of the A59 between Skipton and Harrogate.

The £550,000 project has seen maintenance and repairs to the Kex Gill section of the A59, which has suffered landslips in the past, forcing the road to be closed for five weeks. The road was due to reopen on Friday last week,  but put back after rain delayed lining work. 

The reopening means that the Saturday DalesBus 59 service between Skipton and Harrogate, which has been suspended because of the work, will resume its normal route and timetable from this weekend (November 18).

Buses will again run via Bolton Bridge and Blubberhouses, leaving Skipton Bus Station every Saturday at 10.45am; 12.45pm; 3.45pm and 5.45pm, returning from Harrogate Bus Station at 9.45am; 11.45am; 2.45pm and 4.45pm.

Work is underway on a new £68.8m section of A59 to replace the landslip prone section at Kex Gill and is due to open in two years time, in the autumn of 2025. 

 

Mainline bus service M6 between Skipton, Barnoldswick, Colne, Nelson and Burnley will be improved from Sunday, November 26 with additional journeys running on Monday to Saturday evenings at 7.45pm from Burnley to Skipton and 8.55pm from Skipton to Burnley.

Single fares on all local buses, including services 59 and M6, are still capped at a maximum of £2 as part of the Government's £2 bus fare cap scheme.