Motorists will be alerted to flooding on a key route that crosses the full width of the Yorkshire Dales with the expansion of a state-of-the-art electronic detection system.
North Yorkshire Council has installed three more electronic warning signs along the A684 to warn road users of any closure, adding to several more which were put in place three years ago on the well-used route.
One sign has been installed at Warlaby crossroads and two more on the approaches to the eastern Bedale bypass roundabout. The total cost of the electronic signs and construction was about £100,000.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for highways and transport, Cllr Malcolm Taylor, said:
The A684 is a key strategic route east to west linking the North Yorkshire Moors with the Dales, which often sees heavy and consistent rainfall.
Before the new system was installed, we relied on members of the public to report any issues before attending to manually put up signs, so this is a quicker, more efficient way to keep the public safe.
The flood detectors contain sensors so that when water reaches a level that will flood the road, the signs display flood warnings. They can also be used to warn of other road closures.
Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, who represents the Morton on Swale area on North Yorkshire Council, contributed some of her locality budget. Along with highways staff, she liaised with local parish councils and village groups about this long-standing issue.
Cllr Wilkinson said:
As soon as we experience prolonged periods of wet weather, residents and road users are quick to question if the bridge is affected.
When it floods, it inevitably causes significant disruption.
I’m delighted that the signs are in place this winter. They will bring long-term benefits to all road users, knowing that they can rely on the new electronic signs when they travel.
In 2022, a £418,000 flood detection system was installed at flooding hotspots on the A684 – the first of its kind in North Yorkshire – financed by the Government’s Safer Roads Fund.
The seven signs were installed by SWARCO Traffic at various locations along the A684 from Bainbridge, Worton, Asygarth, West Witton and Wensley.
Regional operations manager at Swarco UK & Ireland, Brian McFarlane, said:
Our collaboration on previous flood detection initiatives provided an invaluable insight into the specific challenges faced by communities in the region.
The knowledge acquired through that close partnership, combined with expertise and best practices gleaned from a diverse portfolio of other successful flood resilience schemes, has been instrumental in refining our approach and developing a comprehensive strategy tailored for effective, real-world application.
We are incredibly pleased with the successful delivery of this project and the seamless collaboration between our team and the council.
The project has been funded from the council’s Economic, Regeneration, Tourism and Transport Project Development Fund Agreement and the Environment Agency through the West Yorkshire Flood Innovation Programme (WYFLIP).
Road closures are posted on North Yorkshire Council’s social media pages and on the roadworks map at www.northyorks.gov.uk/roadworks-map
