Cyclists and walkers warned of the dangers of ignoring road closures

Cyclists and walkers in the Yorkshire Dales are being warned against ignoring the road closure at Cogden South bridge.

North Yorkshire County Council highways team are carrying out permanent repairs to the bridge on the C106 near Grinton Moor, which was destroyed during catastrophic flooding in 2019. The new bridge is on schedule to open by January 25, 2021.

County Councillor Yvonne Peacock, member for the Upper Dales, said: “As we have reached the stage where the shell of the bridge is up, we are finding that cyclists and walkers are moving safety fencing and crossing the bridge.

“I would like to remind the public that the site is not safe and by going beyond the barriers they are trespassing. We understand the closure is an inconvenience but the measures are in place for your safety. We are very much looking forward to the bridge reopening in the New Year.” 

The masonry arch bridge has been constructed with just the remaining stone walls left to be built. The temporary road and steel pipes that once gave access over the beck for the past year due to flooding are due to be removed. 

The upstream embankment and re-profiling works are still to be completed, along with drainage works, kerb and verge works, road surfacing and reinstatement of the land.