Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) – Local Transport Plan Four (LTP4) sets out a range of strategic transport priorities. These priorities include the need to improve east-west connectivity and enhancing the reliability of the transport network.
The plan stresses that improvements to east-west links are considered necessary in order to help to boost the economic performance of North Yorkshire, by improving access to businesses, unlocking housing growth and enabling the area to be accessed more easily from other areas of the country and the strategic transport network (e.g. A1(M) and East Coast Mainline).
The LTP4 highlights that the A59 is a primary east-west corridor’ which currently experiences poor journey times and reliability. The provision of a road improvement scheme at Kex Gill is regarded as a high priority, forming part of wider, strategic plans for improved east-west connectivity across the county. In addition, the LTP4 outlines plans for the introduction of three additional climbing lanes (providing overtaking opportunities). On the A59 between Skipton and Harrogate.
In 2015, NYCC published a Transport Prospectus for North Yorkshire36, outlining how NYCC would like to work with the government, TfN and the Northern City Regions to ensure that improved transport connections allow North Yorkshire to both contribute to and share in the economic benefits of the Northern Powerhouse. The prospectus sets out a number of initiatives for improvements to the transport network in the county by 2030. Figure 4-2 illustrates the initiatives which are likely to have direct a direct impact on the A59 between Skipton and Harrogate and therefore are an important consideration in terms of the development of the Kex Gill Diversion scheme.
HARROGATE RELIEF ROAD – Proposals for a scheme to address ‘east-west connectivity’ and traffic congestion issues in the town which currently result in delays and unreliable journey times. Expectations are that any scheme would cost in the region of £75 – £100 million.
(Mouchel, Consultants to NYCC May 2017)
