A NEW bridge that will benefit businesses at Dalton Industrial Estate near Thirsk is on the verge of opening - but first there will be road closures.

Dalton Lane and Eldmire Lane will be closed from 6.30pm on June 22 until 9am the following day.

Then the junction from Dalton Bridge House to Dalton will be closed until 9pm on June 24.

There will be no access for private vehicles during the whole of the closure, but from 9am on Saturday Dalton Lane and Eldmire Lane to the industrial estate will be open for access to the industrial estate only.

The closure will allow surfacing to be carried out to link the new carriageway to the existing road and to allow construction of the new road over the old section of Eldmire Lane, which is two metres higher than the existing road level and involves a significant amount of work.

After the work is complete, traffic will be able to use the new Dalton Bridge.

However further closure will be needed the following weekend to allow the final surface course to be laid.

Some work will then continue on the scheme as there are elements that cannot be completed until the road is on the new alignment.

The new bridge will replace a flood-blighted bridge that has been closed for long periods in the past, including last winter, because of recurring flooding. - causing considerable disruption for local businesses.

Jobs on the industrial estate will be safeguarded and potentially more could be created by the realignment of the road and construction of the new bridge.

The £4.1m project is a partnership between businesses on Dalton Industrial Estate, the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership, North Yorkshire County Council, Hambleton District Council and the Environment Agency.

Hambleton District Council's leader Cllr Mark Robson said: “This bridge is going to make a massive difference to both the people working on the estate and those living in Dalton.

"We hope that it will see the economy of this important industrial estate grow, bringing more businesses to Hambleton and opportunities for local people.”

The county council's executive member for highways, Cllr Don Mackenzie, said: “This project is a vital investment and when complete will support jobs and growth in the area, so I’m delighted to see it reach another milestone.”

And local county councillor Robert Baker added: “A strong economy is a priority for the county council, and this is a good example of partnership in practice for the benefit of the economy.”