A SECTION of a main road between Darlington and Teesdale will close for ten months from Monday (June 2) for repairs.

The A67 between Piercebridge and High Coniscliffe needs major structural work after a landslip was identified at Carlbury in February last year.

The closure will enable Northumbrian Water to divert pipes out of the unstable section of road before Darlington Borough Council can stabilise almost 400 metres of the embankment and road.

The diversion route will be the B6275, B6279 Staindrop Road, B6280 Carmel Road North and A67 Coniscliffe Road and vice versa.

Darlington Council has worked with affected communities to minimise disruption during the closure and a spokeswoman said: “The road is a vital link between Darlington and Teesdale and we want to restore and protect it.

“We recognise that the road closure will mean a significant period of disruption for residents, businesses, visitors and commuters and we are doing all we can to keep this to a minimum.

“We’ve held a series of information events with the communities that will be affected by the road closure and where possible have adapted plans to accommodate their views.”

Nick Young manages the Sam Turner’s garden centre on the B6275 at Carlbury and said customers had still managed to reach his business during previous closures but he hoped that the diversion signs would be clearer this time round.

He added: “Fortunately at this moment in time, the delays with starting the work has actually done us a favour because we have almost got through our busiest period.

“We have been very busy since the end of February and we feel that as a company opening for 12 months now, people seem to be coming to us regardless (of the roadworks); they are going round the block to get to us, if you like.

Mr Young added: “Obviously it is going to happen now on Monday, there is nothing we can do about it, we just hope and pray that people will come for the rest of the season.”

Buses will operate on reduced timetables and a temporary taxi-bus will operate from High Coniscliffe to Darlington town centre for the part of the bus route cut off by the closure.

This service will operate seven days a week.

The road is expected to reopen in April 2015 and updates on the work's progress will be posted at darlington.gov.uk/carlbury.