WORK to replace a flood-blighted bridge – which will bring huge benefits to a North Yorkshire industrial estate – has begun.

Jobs are being safeguarded and potentially many more could be created following the realignment of the road and construction of a new bridge at Dalton industrial estate near Thirsk.

The £4.1m project is the result of a partnership between businesses on Dalton Industrial Estate, the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership, the county and district councils and the Environment Agency.

It is hoped there will be major benefits to businesses, which have had to deal with access problems caused by recurring flooding that has seen the current bridge over Cod Beck closed for long periods.

They have raised £1.4m towards the scheme by creating a Business Improvement District in which each of the 28 businesses on the estate pays an extra levy on their business rates to put towards work on the estate.

In addition, the Local Enterprise Partnership provided £1.8m and the Environment Agency contributed £364,000.

The work will include ground stabilisation, embankment construction, drainage, culvert installation on Thacker Beck, flood banks and highway drainage and surfacing.

The new road is expected to open in March next year, with all works complete three months later.