Road resurfacing works underway across Harrogate district as part of annual upgrades

North Yorkshire County Council is running the works which will see hundreds of miles of roads given new layers to extend their life and reduce long-term maintenance costs.

The scheme will start in the Ripon area before moving to Harrogate at the weekend and through next week.

Works will then take place in other parts of the district on several dates in June and July.

Councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at the county council, said: "With the county and the country opening up again as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, this work is equally important as part of our support for businesses as they begin their recovery from the impact of the pandemic.

“This enhancement to the quality of sections of our road network year after year is crucial in ensuring that business people, residents and visitors, both within the county and from outside, can travel with confidence.”

Harrogate's Local Plan under pressure to get to grips with housing developments

The works are taking place across North Yorkshire at a cost of more than £10m.

Roads will be given new layers of bitumen and stone chippings in what the council said is an "efficient and cost-effective way" of extending their life by up to ten years.

The works will require road closures and contractors will erect signage at each location before they start.

Councillor Mackenzie, who is also member for the Harrogate Saltergate division, added: “This work is very fast-moving and the programme can be affected without notice by weather.

"This can make communicating exact dates challenging, so we urge residents to check the advance site signage regularly, because contractors will amend this to highlight any change in the schedule.”

For more information go to www.northyorks.gov.uk/surface-dressing

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter