Harrogate Sustainable Improvement Package – West Harrogate

We have been awarded funding from the government's National Productivity Investment fund to deliver a Sustainable Transport Package in the West of Harrogate.

With contributions from ourselves and developers, the total package will deliver £4.6m of improvements.

What will the package of improvements include?

Among the planned upgrades are improvements to junctions on Otley Road including smart traffic lights, extra traffic lanes, a new off road cycle lane to link into the developing cycle network and new or improved pedestrian crossings. These engineering measures will be complimented by an investment into the ‘softer’ measures such as publicity and education regarding sustainable travel.

The package of sustainable measures will help to improve safety and alleviate the levels of congestion currently experienced along the Otley Road corridor, accommodating the existing traffic and future growth of Harrogate as recognised in the former Harrogate Borough Council’s draft Local Plan.

Surveys and design work in relation to the ‘off road’ Otley Road cycle route and junction upgrade at Harlow Moor Road with Otley Road commenced in April 2018. The local highways team will be keeping the public up to date regarding design, programme and delivery over the next 18 months here.

Public Engagement Event - 21 January 2019

We hosted a public engagement event at Harrogate Grammar school in January 2019. This event focused on the designs of Harlow Moor Road Junction and the Otley Road cycle route, schemes that have been developed as part of a wider package to improve congestion and the impact of future trip demand on the highway network. 

Attended by over 200 Harrogate residents and stakeholder representatives, the attendees were provided with the opportunity to discuss the draft pans with the designers. All comments were noted and have been considered as part of the final design of the schemes. A number of the key questions raised at the event have been collated in the question and answers document.

Scheme Updates

Otley Road Cycle Route

The cycle route has been designed off road along the wide footpath and verges of Otley Road. It has been designed to take cyclists on both sides of the road on segregated routes where site constraints allow, otherwise shared – approx. 42% segregated and 58% shared. The design has included a number of new junction upgrades to introduce two new Toucan facilities for cyclists. The designs can be found at the links below.

 Otley Road Cycleway - General Arrangement - Phase 1 - 1 Of 3 (pdf / 2 MB)

 Otley Road Cycleway - General Arrangement - Phase 1 - 2 Of 3 (pdf / 2 MB)

 Otley Road Cycleway - General Arrangement - Phase 1 - 3 Of 3 (pdf / 1 MB)

 Otley Road Cycleway - General Arrangement - Phase 2 - 1 Of 4 (pdf / 2 MB)

 Otley Road Cycleway - General Arrangement - Phase 2 - 2 Of 4 (pdf / 2 MB)

 Otley Road Cycleway - General Arrangement - Phase 2 - 3 Of 4 (pdf / 2 MB)

 Otley Road Cycleway - General Arrangement - Phase 2 - 4 Of 4 (pdf / 2 MB)

The design includes the use of the Stray, requiring a change in byelaw. This must be implemented by North Yorkshire Council local highways team are liaising with Harrogate Officers. It is likely that the legal requirements associated with the Stray will not be concluded by the scheme start date. If this is the case, delivery of the cycle route will need to be split into phases.

The first phase to be delivered will be Harlow Moor Road to Arthur’s Avenue and the second phase, Arthurs Avenue to the Town Centre will be delivered at a later date once the use of the Stray and associated requirements have been concluded.

There will be a third phase that continues the route from Harlow Moor Road to Cardale Park. This element will be developer funded and discussions are ongoing regarding the design and delivery of this section. We will continue to work with the developers to ensure the appropriate standards are consistent with the off road cycle route delivered by us.

North Yorkshire Council Officers are currently considering locations where surfaced areas can be returned to grass. Appropriate consultations and permissions must then take place.

Harlow Moor Road Junction

Improvements at the junction of Harlow Moor Road with Otley Road will see the widening of the junction and the introduction of a left turn lane into Harlow Moor Road. This improvement will address the impact of queuing traffic in the short term but has also been designed to allow the capacity of future growth identified in Harrogate Borough Council’s Local Plan. The final design can be found at the link below.

 Harlow Moor Road junction general arrangement - sheet 1 of 2 (pdf / 1 MB)

 Harlow Moor Road junction general arrangement - sheet 2 of 2 (pdf / 2 MB)

Otley Road - Phase 2 work updates

Phase 2 works are due to start shortly

The following documents show the designs of the Phase 2 works on Otley Road. More details will be added once the work begins.

 Otley Road phase 2 designs 1 (pdf / 115 KB)

 Otley Road phase 2 designs 2 (pdf / 86 KB)

Beech Grove – Experimental Modal Filter

In February 2021 we introduced an 18 month experimental restrictions to Beech Grove and Lancaster Road which prohibited through traffic (often referred to as a Low Traffic Neighbourhood or LTN).

A Low Traffic Neighbourhood is essentially an area where non-residential through traffic is prevented in order to create quieter residential streets with less vehicular traffic, where residents can enjoy a quieter neighbourhood and feel safer when walking and cycling. This scheme was trialled for an 18 month period:

The scheme was aimed at preventing motorists from outside the area driving through residential areas through the use of ‘modal filters” or “traffic filters” which can be installed by means of various measures but planters alongside bollards(for emergency services access) were used at this location. It was possible to walk and cycle through the filters and access was available for residents, their visitors, deliveries, emergency vehicles, refuse collections and taxi/ private hire vehicles.

Next Steps – October 2022

Following the conclusion of the experimental modal filter residents have been invited to respond to a consolation letter asking for their views on two options for this area (please see the links below). Once the consultation is concluded the feedback will be assessed and an update will be provided regarding the way forward for this area

This consultation will run from 24 October to 12 December 2022 (the consultation period has been extended by two weeks).

Next Steps – November 22

Further to the initial consultation letter and invite to a public meeting held on 11 November, we are extending the consultation period for a further two weeks, ending 12 December 2022. Letters are being posted to local residents to advise of this extended consultation period and invite them to a second meeting on 5 December between midday and 2pm at the Harrogate Civic Centre. This will provide another opportunity to discuss the proposals with us.

Read the consultation letter from 26 November 2022

Scheme progress

23 September 2021 update

Progress this week:

  • site works commenced as planned on Monday 20 September
  • phase 1 (College Road to Hill Rise Avenue), excavations for the carriageway widening to the west of Harlow Moor Road have commenced
  • excavations have begun on Otley Road to the West of the Harlow Moor Road junction

Activities planned for next week: 27 September to 3 October:

  • phase 1 (College Road to Hill Rise Avenue), new kerbing to be laid, along with new ducts and drainage
  • works to the carriageway widening to the East of Harlow Moor Road to commence
  • phase 3 of the works  (Hill Rise Avenue to Pannal Ash Drive) works at the Manor Drive / Pannal Ash Road junction to commence

For the weekends commencing 2/3 October temporary traffic lights will be installed on the Harlow Moor Road and Otley Road junction, due to works to the power supply for the permanent signals. Temporary signals will remain on a weekend until works have been completed to restore the permanent signals.

Photos of weekly progress from 23 September 2021

27 September to 1 October 2021 update

Progress this week date

  • Phase 1 (College Road to Hill Rise Avenue)
    • Excavations for the carriageway widening to the west of Harlow Moor Road continued
    • The bad weather hampered the intended activities of kerbing and drainage
    • New ducts for BT were laid across the Harlow Moor Road junction
    • Excavations East of Harlow Moor Road have commenced
    • The temporary traffic lights will remain in use over the weekend, but the road closures will be lifted and re-instated on Monday
  • Phase 3 activities delayed until next week, due to bad weather

Activities planned for next week

  • Phase 1 (College Road to Hill Rise Avenue)
    • New kerbing to be laid, along with new ducts and drainage
    • Northern Gas to adjust their services to accommodate the new kerbline
    • Street lighting columns to be disconnected and removed
    • The excavations are to be constructed up to sub-base level
    • The permanent traffic signals will be removed
  • Phase 3 (Hill Rise Avenue to Pannal Ash Drive) works at the Manor Drive / Pannal Ash Road junction to commence. Harlow Oval will be closed to traffic, with narrow lanes to accommodate the working area
Photos showing how work is progressing during week 2 of the Otley Road cycle path work
Work underway during the second week of work on Otley Road

4 to 8 October 2021 update

Progress this week date

  • Phase 1 (College Road to Hill Rise Avenue)
    • Kerbing has commenced
    • Drainage activities and new gullies installed
    • The traffic signal equipment has started being removed
    • Excavations East of Harlow Moor Road have commenced
    • The temporary traffic lights will remain in use over the weekend, but the road closures will be lifted and re-instated on Monday
  • Phase 3 activities delayed until next week, due to bad weather

Activities planned for next week

  • Phase 1 (College Road to Hill Rise Avenue)
    • Northern Gas to adjust their services to accommodate the new kerbline
    • Kerbing to continue
    • Street lighting columns to be disconnected and removed
    • The excavations are to be constructed up to sub-base level
    • Works at Harlow Oval to commence, will be closed to traffic, with narrow lanes to accommodate the working area
  • Phase 3 (Hill Rise Avenue to Pannal Ash Drive) works at the Manor Drive / Pannal Ash Road junction to commence.
Photos of the third week of work on Otley Road cycle lane

21 October 2021 update

Progress this week date

  • Phase 1 (College Road to Hill Rise Avenue)
    • Kerbing is continuing
    • Drainage activities and new gullies installed
    • The traffic signal equipment has started to be installed
    • Sub-base has been laid
    • Excavations East of Harlow Moor Road have completed
    • Kerbing and drainage has been installed in the excavated areas East or Harlow Moor Road
    • Tactile paving for the new pedestrian crossings has commenced
    • The temporary traffic lights will remain in use over the weekend, but the road closures will be lifted and re-instated on Monday
  • Phase 3 (Pannal Ash Drive to Pannal Ash Road)
    • Excavations have commenced

Activities planned for next week

  • Phase 1 (College Road to Hill Rise Avenue)
    • Kerbing to continue
    • Tactile paving for the new pedestrian crossings to continue
    • Street lighting columns to be disconnected and removed
    • The excavations will continue to be laid up to sub-base level
  • Phase 3 (Pannal Ash Drive to Pannal Ash Road)
    • Works at Harlow Oval to continue, with narrow lanes to accommodate the working area
    • Works at Manor Road are expected to commence mid-week utilising 3-way temporary traffic lights and Manor Road to be closed, a diversion will be in place
21 October progress photo

28 October 2021 update

Progress of the works is going very well and this week the team report:

  • Phase 1 (College Road to Hill Rise Avenue)
    • Kerbing being completed
      • Sub-base has been laid
    • Drainage now installed and completed
    • Tactile paving to be completed
      • Sub-base now fully laid
    • The road closure will be removed Friday evening
    • The temporary traffic lights will remain in use
  • Phase 3 (Pannal Ash Drive to Pannal Ash Road)
    • Excavations have commenced
    • The new kerb line is being installed

Activities for week commencing 1 November 2021

  • Phase 1 (College Road to Hill Rise Avenue)
    • Surfacing to binder course to commence
    • Works to the south side of the junction to commence
    • NGN to attend site
  • Phase 3 (Pannal Ash Drive to Pannal Ash Road)
    • Works at Harlow Oval to continue, with narrow lanes to accommodate the working area
    • Works at Manor Road are expected to commence mid-week utilising 3-way temporary traffic lights and Manor Road to be closed, a diversion will be in place
Photos of work progress on 28 October

4 November 2021 update

Progress this week date

  • Phase 1 (College Road to Hill Rise Avenue)
    • Kerbing completed
    • Tactile paving completed
    • NGN attended site and completed their works
    • The temporary traffic lights will remain in use
  • Phase 3 (Pannal Ash Drive to Pannal Ash Road)
    • New kerbline installed
  • Phase 2 (Manor Road)
    • Road closure in place
    • Existing kerbs removed

Activities planned for next week

  • Phase 1 (College Road to Hill Rise Avenue)
    • Carriageway surfacing to binder course to commence
    • Footway surfacing to commence
    • Lighting columns to be removed
    • New lighting columns installed
  • Phase 3 (Pannal Ash Drive to Pannal Ash Road)
    • Footway surfacing to commence
  • Phase 2 (Manor Road)
    • New kerbline to be installed
Photos showing working progress on the 4 November.

8 November 2021 update

Progress this week date

  • Phase 1 (College Road to Hill Rise Avenue)
    • Surfacing has been completed to binder course
    • The temporary traffic lights will remain in use
  • Phase 3 (Pannal Ash Drive to Pannal Ash Road)
    • New kerbline installed
    • Tactile paving installed
  • Phase 2 (Manor Road)
    • Road closure in place
    • New kerbline constructed
    • Tactile paving installed
    • Road closure removed

Activities planned for next week

  • Phase 1 (College Road to Hill Rise Avenue)
    • Lighting columns to be removed
    • New lighting columns installed
    • Works to the south side of the junction to commence
  • Phase 3 (Pannal Ash Drive to Pannal Ash Road)
    • Footway surfacing to commence
  • Phase 2 (Manor Road)
    • 3-way temporary traffic lights to be installed
    • Works to the south-side of this junction to commence
resurfaced pavement
pavement work

15 November 2021 update

Progress this week date

  • Phase 1 (College Road to Hill Rise Avenue)
    • Surfacing has been completed to binder course
    • Works to the south side of the junction have started, new kerb line is being installed
    • The temporary traffic lights will remain in use
    • Siding out and a new carriageway crossing for the traffic signals to be completed on Saturday 20th November
  • Phase 3 (Pannal Ash Drive to Pannal Ash Road)
    • New kerbline installed
    • Footway surfacing has commenced
    • Tactile paving installed
  • Phase 2 (Manor Road)
    • New kerbline constructed
    • Tactile paving installed
    • South-side new kerbline being constructed

Activities planned for next week

  • Phase 1 (College Road to Hill Rise Avenue)
    • New Traffic Signal equipment to be installed
  • Phase 3 (Pannal Ash Drive to Pannal Ash Road)
    • Footway surfacing to continue
  • Phase 2 (Manor Road)
    • 3-way temporary traffic lights to be installed
    • Works to the south-side of this junction to continue
Images of work from week commencing 15 November
Footpath work during week commencing 15 November

22 November 2021 update

The scheme is progressing well, due to a slow start we now expect the site activities to be complete on Friday 17 December.

Progress this week date

  • Phase 1 (College Road to Hill Rise Avenue)
    • Works to the south side of the junction have started, new kerb line is being installed
    • The temporary traffic lights will remain in use
    • New traffic signal equipment is being installed
  • Phase 3 (Pannal Ash Drive to Pannal Ash Road)
    • New kerbline installed
    • Footway surfacing has commenced
    • Tactile paving installed
  • Phase 2 (Manor Road)
    • New kerbline constructed
    • Tactile paving installed
    • South-side new kerbline being constructed
    • 3-way temporary traffic lights to remain in use

Activities planned for next week

  • Phase 1 (College Road to Hill Rise Avenue)
    • Footway surfacing to commence
  • Phase 3 (Pannal Ash Drive to Pannal Ash Road)
    • Footway surfacing to continue
    • New traffic signal equipment to be installed
  • Phase 2 (Manor Road)
    • Works to the south-side of this junction to continue

Carriageway Surfacing

  • Otley Road will be closed to vehicles, each week-night commencing Tuesday 30 November, between the hours of 7pm and 3pm.  We expect night-time surfacing activities to continue until Friday 10 December.
    • Planing off of the existing carriageway surface course to commence
Photo of progress of the work at 22 November
Pavement
Crossing

9 December 2021 update

Bad weather has had an impact on the night time surfacing activities, we now expect these to continue into next week and be complete by 17 December

Progress this week date

  • Phase 1 (College Road to Hill Rise Avenue)
    • Works to the footpaths are continuing
    • The temporary traffic lights will remain in use
    • New traffic signal equipment is being installed
  • Phase 3 (Pannal Ash Drive to Pannal Ash Road)
    • Footway surfacing has commenced
    • Tactile paving installed
  • Phase 2 (Manor Road)
    • Tactile paving installed
    • 3-way temporary traffic lights to remain in use

Activities planned for next week

  • Phase 1 (College Road to Hill Rise Avenue)
    • Footway surfacing to continue
  • Phase 3 (Pannal Ash Drive to Pannal Ash Road)
    • Footway surfacing to continue
    • New traffic signal equipment to be installed
  • Phase 2 (Manor Road)
    • Works to the south-side of this junction to continue

Carriageway Surfacing

  • Otley Road will be closed to vehicles, each week-night commencing Tuesday 30 November, between the hours of 7pm and 3pm.  We expect night-time surfacing activities to continue until 17 December.
    • Planing off of the existing carriageway surface course has been completed
    • New surface course is being laid
Resurfacing road at night

5 January 2022 update

We are on programme to complete by Friday 14 January, weather permitting.

Works will be taking place this Saturday 8 January during daytime working.

Progress this week

  • High Friction surfacing to be laid
  • Carriageway lining to be completed
  • Tactile paving to be completed

Activities planned for next week

  • Footway surfacing to be completed
  • No street lighting columns to be connected
  • The carriageway detection loops for the new traffic signals to be installed
  • The new traffic signals at Pannal Ash Road and Harlow Moor Road junctions are to be commissioned
  • All traffic management to be removed and the new traffic signals to be in operation

13 January 2022 update

We are on programme to complete by Friday 21 January, weather permitting

Works will be taking place this Saturday 14 January during daytime working.

Progress this week

  • Footway surfacing has continued
  • Tactile surfacing has been installed
  • 4No street lighting columns have been connected
  • The carriageway detection loops at Pannal Ash Road Junction have been installed
  • The carriageway detection loops at Harlow Moor Road junction

Activities planned for next week

  • Footway surfacing to be completed
  • The remaining tactile surfacing to be completed
  • To accommodate the footway surfacing on the Southern side of Otley Road, it will be necessary to operate 2-way temporary traffic signals and a mobile lane closure.  The lane closure will start at near to Pannal Ash Road junction and move northbound as the surfacing progresses towards Harlow Moor Road.
  • Lining to be completed
  • The new traffic signals at Pannal Ash Road and Harlow Moor Road junctions are to be commissioned
Photo of progress on the 13 January 2022

21 January 2022 update

The resurfacing of the Southern footway on Otley Road will continue on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 January during daytime working.

Progress this week:

  • The new traffic signals at both the Pannal Ash Road and Harlow Moor Road junctions are now in operation
  • The temporary traffic lights at these junctions have been removed
  • White lining has been completed
  • Footway resurfacing has continued on the Southern side of Otley Road

Activities planned for next week

  • The remaining signs to be installed on the new cycleway and footway
  • The remaining street furniture to be installed
Photo of progress of the work from 21 January 2022
An image of progress of work on 21 January 2022

28 January 2022 update

Thank you for your continued patience whilst these junction improvement works are taking place. The Scalby Road closure is expected to be extended until mid-February whilst utility works continue. Northern Gas Network will be working over the weekend using temporary 2-way lights on Falsgrave Road. Northern Powergrid have continued with their diversion works and both utility companies will be continuing with their works next week. Our contractor has laid the new binder course on the footway on Scalby Road and the pedestrian crossing. Next week we are planning to start the footway works on Falsgrave Road which will include the installation of four new tree pits.

Updates from 28 January

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