Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith KCB CBE MP, Member of Parliament for Skipton and Ripon, visited the Kex Gill realignment project site on Friday, 28 November, alongside Rt Hon Richard Holden MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, and representatives from North Yorkshire Council to receive an update on progress with this major infrastructure scheme.
The A59 is a vital Trans-Pennine route, but the Kex Gill section has faced repeated landslips, causing lengthy closures, costly repairs, and significant disruption for businesses and communities.
The £82.5 million realignment project will deliver a 4.8km route north of the existing road, improving safety and resilience.
During the visit, Julian and the Shadow Transport Secretary met representatives from North Yorkshire Council, John Sisk & Son, and project engineers to discuss progress and challenges. The scheme includes 12 new structures, 12km of utility diversions, 9km of drainage pipes, and extensive environmental measures such as 12,000 new trees and 60 wildlife boxes.
Completion is expected in Spring 2026.
Commenting, Julian said, “This project is essential for the long-term reliability of the A59 and for supporting local businesses and communities. It was great to see the progress being made and to thank the teams working hard to deliver one of North Yorkshire’s most ambitious highways projects.”
Rt Hon Richard Holden MP said, "It is great to see the tremendous progress on this vital project, which I began as Roads Minister in 2023 and which Sir Julian has long championed.
"Large-scale infrastructure schemes inevitably face environmental and weather-related challenges, but it is encouraging to see these being mitigated where possible by teams working tirelessly on the ground in all conditions.
"We all look forward to the project’s completion and the growth and opportunities it will bring across the North of England and the country."
The visit followed Julian's intervention in the House of Commons on delays and cost overruns on the project.
