THE public is being consulted on finding the best route to bypass a section of a major cross-Pennine road prone to landslides.

People are being invited to meetings in Skipton, Harrogate and Washburn to scrutinise and comment on four new suggested stretches of the A59, avoiding the Kex Gill gorge.

The proposal, expected to cost between £33m and £40m, is to realign the A59 to the other side of the valley and is part of North Yorkshire County Council’s strategic transport plan to improve east to west connections between the east coast and Humber ports and Lancashire.

County Hall has spent in the region of £1 million in the last eight years or so repairing landslips to the west of Blubberhouses which have blocked the narrow winding road.

The most recent closure was in January 2016 which imposed long diversions for about eight weeks as work went ahead to stabilise the land.

Drivers were re-routed more than six miles through towns unsuitable for the volume of traffic and nature of vehicles.

Repair work has involved strengthening the banks and improving drainage and installing technology to monitor any movement in the slope above the road but the chance of further landslips, which could lead to long-term closures, still remains.

The council has commissioned an assessment of the options for realigning the road and initially 16 possible routes were identified.

Of these, 12 were discounted because of engineering or environmental constraints, continued risks of landslip, and cost.

The remaining four have been identified as the most achievable. The cost of construction is estimated at between £33m and £40m and the county council is preparing a funding bid to the Department for Transport.

At a recent meeting Executive Members for Business and Environmental Services approved a public consultation on these routes.

County Councillor Don Mackenzie, Executive Member for Highways, said: “The A59 provides a vital link between the east and west of the region through North Yorkshire. Its reliability is crucial for the economic growth of our county as well as the convenience and safety of commuters, visitors and residents.

“The consultation will help us to determine the route that most improves the resilience of the A59, along with improved safety and increased reliability of journey times for road users while maintaining the landscape, ecological and historical value of the surrounding area.

“The consultation will be wide-ranging with public events to allow people to view the proposals as well as opportunities to give their responses online and on paper. Details will be announced shortly and we would urge everyone with an interest in the route to take part.”

Public consultation will take place at Skipton Town Hall, in the Concert Hall, on Thursday, September 21, from 10am – 2pm and 3pm – 8pm, at St Peters Church Hall, Harrogate, on Friday, September 22, from 10am – 2pm and 3pm – 8pm and at Norwood Social Hall, Washburn, on Saturday, September 23, from 9:30am – 3pm.