Alert Roadworks
Alert: Roadworks—North Yorkshire Roadworks & Traffic Updates. Planning to travel today? Check the latest roadworks and traffic hotspots across Harrogate, Knaresborough, and Ripon to avoid delays. Stay up to date with live traffic information, diversion routes, and planned works before you set off. For the latest roadworks that are updated hourly, go to our roadworks section at https://harrogateuk.co.uk/harrogate-traffic-information/
13th September 2026
Roadworks Alert: 10 Routes to Watch Across Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon
Planning to drive around Harrogate, Knaresborough or Ripon this week? A combination of road closures, temporary traffic lights and major engineering projects could add time to your journey.
Drivers are being encouraged to plan ahead and allow extra travel time during the week commencing 13 September 2026. Here are the key locations to know about — plus some welcome news for motorists using the A59 at Kex Gill.
1. Rossett Green Lane, Harrogate – CLOSED
One of the more significant closures in Harrogate is Rossett Green Lane, where sewer connection works are taking place.
The road is scheduled to remain fully closed from 9 September until 28 September.
Drivers who normally use the route should plan an alternative, while surrounding residential roads could become busier as traffic diverts around the closure.
2. Duchy Road, Harrogate – closure continuing
Motorists around the Duchy area should also be aware of the Duchy Road closure, which is expected to continue through 13 September.
Even after work finishes, it is worth checking the latest situation before travelling in case the programme changes.
3. Swan Road, Harrogate – major water works
Swan Road is closed while major Yorkshire Water mains upgrade works are carried out.
Its location close to Harrogate town centre means the closure has the potential to affect more than just Swan Road itself, with additional vehicles using surrounding streets.
If you’re heading into central Harrogate, give yourself extra time.
4. A59 and Tesco Roundabout – expect delays
The A59 corridor around the Tesco roundabout remains another area to watch.
Major engineering works and associated traffic management are continuing, with delays possible on this already busy approach to Harrogate.
Congestion can quickly build during peak periods, so commuters and school-run traffic should consider allowing extra time.
5. Skipton Road – disruption isn’t over yet
Drivers regularly using Skipton Road will need to remain patient.
Restrictions and ongoing works are expected to cause disruption through late November, making this one of the longer-running schemes affecting Harrogate.
The road is a major route into and out of town, meaning delays can also have a knock-on effect elsewhere.
6. Avenue Place, Starbeck – traffic controls
Over in Starbeck, Avenue Place is affected by temporary traffic management.
Alternating traffic controls and give-and-take arrangements mean vehicles may need to wait before passing through the works.
At quieter times, the impact may be limited, but queues can develop quickly when traffic levels increase.
7. Bond End, Knaresborough – four-way lights
Heading into Knaresborough?
Four-way temporary traffic lights at Bond End are causing intermittent delays.
This is an important route through the town, so even relatively short queues can affect traffic on connecting roads.
Allow extra time, particularly during the busiest parts of the day.
8. Wetherby Road, Knaresborough – works near Sainsbury’s
Drivers should also watch for disruption on Wetherby Road, where service works and localised resurfacing are taking place around the Sainsbury’s area.
Temporary restrictions here can create additional congestion for motorists travelling between Knaresborough and the surrounding road network.
9. St Mary’s Gate, Ripon – closure and temporary lights
In Ripon, St Mary’s Gate is another location to keep on your radar.
A road closure and localised temporary traffic lights have been in operation since 7 September.
Anyone heading into or across Ripon should follow temporary signs and be prepared for alternative routes.
10. A59 Kex Gill – finally some good news for drivers
After all those closures and temporary lights, there’s some much better news for motorists travelling between Harrogate and Skipton.
The new A59 Kex Gill bypass is open to traffic following a major three-year construction project costing around £82 million.
The approximately three-mile bypass replaces the notorious landslip-prone stretch of the A59. The old route had suffered repeated problems over the years, making this strategically important east-west connection vulnerable to lengthy closures.
For people travelling from Harrogate towards Bolton Abbey, Skipton and the Yorkshire Dales, the new road should provide a safer and much more dependable journey.
Motorists should still watch for any temporary traffic management associated with finishing works around the project.
Before you set off…
The important thing this week is simple: don’t assume your usual route will take its usual amount of time.
Roadworks can change at short notice because of weather, engineering requirements and the progress being made on individual schemes.
Check conditions before leaving, follow temporary signs and, where possible, give yourself extra time for journeys across Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon.
And while there are plenty of cones and temporary lights to contend with, the opening of the £82 million Kex Gill bypass is a major improvement for one of North Yorkshire’s most important routes.
A few minutes checking your journey before setting off could save considerably more time sitting in traffic.
8th September 2026
Drivers Warned of Delays as Major Roadworks Hit Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon
Drivers across Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon should allow extra time for journeys this week, with road closures, temporary traffic lights and major utility works affecting several key routes from 9 to 13 September 2026.
Some disruption will continue well beyond the weekend, including a lengthy closure on Rossett Green Lane and ongoing works affecting the A59 and Skipton Road.
Harrogate Roadworks
Rossett Green Lane
A full road closure begins on 9 September and is scheduled to remain in place until 28 September while essential sewer connection work is carried out. A signed diversion will be in operation.
Duchy Road
The full road closure remains in place and is currently expected to continue until 13 September.
Swan Road
A full closure is in place while Yorkshire Water carries out major water mains work. The disruption is expected to finish on 11 September.
A59
Major engineering works started on 8 September, with drivers advised to expect delays and traffic management along the A59 corridor and around the Tesco roundabout.
Skipton Road
Ongoing works and restrictions continue, with disruption expected to remain in place until late November.
Avenue Place, Starbeck
Traffic controls are in operation until 14 September, with vehicles taking turns to pass.
Lady Lane
Northern Powergrid works are causing local disruption, with work currently scheduled to continue until 18 September.
Otley Road
Temporary traffic lights are expected to remain in operation until 12 September.
Knaresborough Traffic Disruption
Bond End
Four way temporary traffic lights remain in operation for utility works. Drivers should be prepared for delays, particularly during the morning and evening rush hours.
Thistle Hill
Temporary traffic signals and roadworks near Sainsbury’s are continuing to slow traffic through the area.
Ripon Roadworks
St Mary’s Gate
A full road closure and temporary traffic lights came into operation on 7 September as part of a major project expected to continue through October.
Bondgate Green Lane
Roadworks and traffic restrictions remain in place and are currently scheduled to continue until 14 September.
Low St Agnesgate
The ongoing road closure remains in operation.
Planning a journey this week?
With several busy routes affected at the same time, motorists travelling through Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon are advised to allow extra time, check their route before setting off and follow signed diversions where closures are in place.
Roadworks can change at short notice, so check the latest travel information before travelling.
………………………………………………………………….
5th September 2036
More traffic lights ‘spring up’ as Harrogate drivers face another round of roadworks
If you’re driving between Harrogate and Knaresborough, you may want to allow a little more time for your journey.
Another set of temporary traffic lights has appeared on one of the area’s busiest routes, adding to frustration over the number of roadworks, closures, and traffic restrictions currently affecting the district.
Motorists reported delays of up to 20 minutes after temporary lights appeared at around 8 pm at the junction of Forest Lane, Bogs Lane and Starbeck High Street.
For some drivers, their sudden arrival came as an unwelcome surprise.
And it’s far from the only place where motorists could face disruption.
🚦 Where are the current roadworks?
Here are some of the main hotspots to watch if you’re travelling around Harrogate, Knaresborough, and Ripon.
📍 Swan Road, Harrogate
Swan Road is closed for major Yorkshire Water mains replacement work, with restrictions expected to remain in place until 11 September.
📍 Starbeck: Forest Lane, Bogs Lane and High Street
Temporary traffic lights are affecting this busy junction on the route between Harrogate and Knaresborough.
Drivers have reported delays of up to 20 minutes, particularly when traffic is heavy.
📍 Lady Lane, Harrogate
Motorists face a much longer period of disruption here.
Lady Lane remains subject to a long term closure while sewer works are carried out, with disruption expected to continue into November.
📍 Bond End, Knaresborough
Four-way temporary traffic lights remain in operation at Bond End.
It’s another location where allowing extra journey time could prove worthwhile, particularly during the morning and evening rush.
📍 Thistle Hill, Knaresborough
Temporary traffic signals and utility works are also affecting traffic around Thistle Hill.
📍 Bondgate Green, Ripon
Heading into or through Ripon? Motorists should check the latest restrictions around Bondgate Green before travelling.
🗣️ MP: Harrogate situation is “unacceptable”
The growing disruption has also attracted political criticism.
Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Tom Gordon has been critical of prolonged road closures and what he believes is a lack of coordination between utility companies.
“The situation in Harrogate, where we have had multiple routes disrupted at once, is unacceptable in a town already blighted by congestion,” he said.
Mr Gordon has called for North Yorkshire Council to take greater responsibility for coordinating roadworks and to make the permitting and scheduling process more transparent.
He has also warned that having several important routes disrupted at the same time can cause gridlock and damage the local economy.
💷 Could utility companies face £2,500 a day charges?
Changes could be coming to the way roadworks are managed.
Earlier this year, North Yorkshire Council received permission from the Department for Transport to introduce a lane rental scheme.
The idea is simple: encourage utility companies to carry out work at quieter times rather than digging up important roads when they are at their busiest.
Companies could face charges of up to £2,500 per day for carrying out work on specified roads during peak periods.
🚗 Check before setting off
With roadworks and temporary traffic lights changing regularly, a quick check before leaving home could save you an unexpected wait.
Whether you’re travelling through Harrogate, Starbeck, Knaresborough, or Ripon, check https://harrogateuk.co.uk/harrogate-weather/ live roadworks map for the latest closures, temporary traffic lights and traffic restrictions.
Have the latest roadworks affected your journey, and which Harrogate district route do you think is currently the worst for delays? Let us know!
………………………………………………………………….
Ripon Drivers Face Weeks of Road Closures and Temporary Traffic Lights
If you regularly drive through Ripon, you may want to allow extra time for your journey over the coming weeks. A major programme of gas works is bringing road closures, temporary traffic lights and lane restrictions to several busy routes.
Northern Gas Networks (NGN) is replacing ageing metal gas pipes with modern, more durable plastic pipework, helping to keep Ripon homes and businesses safely connected for years to come.
The work, planned alongside North Yorkshire Council, is expected to continue until around the end of November.
🚧 Where will Ripon be affected?
Here are the key dates motorists, residents and visitors need to know:
📍 Low St Agnesgate
From Monday 24 August: Closed between High St Agnesgate and Minster Road until Monday 14 September.
From Monday 7 September: Temporary traffic lights will also operate in the area until Friday 18 September.
📍 St Mary’s Gate
From Monday 7 September: A rolling road closure will move north from Residence Lane towards Allhallowgate and Priest Lane.
The closure is expected to remain until around the end of October.
Good news for shoppers and visitors: access to St Marygate Car Park will remain available throughout the works.
📍 Allhallowgate and Priest Lane
From Monday 5 October: Temporary traffic lights will operate at the junction until approximately Friday 23 October.
📍 Stonebridgegate
From Monday 19 October: One lane will close and temporary traffic lights will be introduced until the project is completed.
🚗 Driving into Ripon? Plan ahead
Whether you’re heading into Ripon for shopping, work, school, an appointment or simply visiting the city, the works could add extra time to your journey.
With restrictions moving to different locations as the project progresses, drivers are advised to plan ahead and leave a little extra time, particularly during the morning and evening rush.
Why is all this work necessary?
Northern Gas Networks says the ageing metal pipes need replacing with more durable plastic pipes to ensure Ripon continues to receive a safe and reliable gas supply.
Mark Mawhood, Operations Manager at Northern Gas Networks, apologised for the disruption but said completing the work was vital to maintaining the city’s gas network.
📅 Ripon roadworks at a glance
- 24 August: Low St Agnesgate closure begins
- 7 September: Temporary lights and St Mary’s Gate closure begin
- 5 October: Temporary lights at Allhallowgate/Priest Lane
- 19 October: Stonebridgegate lane closure and temporary lights
- End of October: St Mary’s Gate works expected to finish
- Around the end of November: Overall project expected to be completed
📞 Need more information?
Northern Gas Networks’ Customer Care Team can be contacted on 0800 040 7766 or at customercare@northerngas.co.uk.
Smell gas or suspect carbon monoxide?
Call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999. The emergency line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
For anyone living, working, shopping or visiting Ripon over the next few months, it could be worth saving these dates — and checking your route before setting off.
…………………………………………………………..
Roadworks This Week in Harrogate, Knaresborough & Ripon (3 August 2026)
🚗 Heading out this week? Several roadworks across Harrogate, Knaresborough, and Ripon are expected to cause delays. Whether you’re commuting, shopping, or visiting local attractions, it’s worth checking your route before setting off.
⚠️ Harrogate
- Skipton Road – Multi-way traffic lights in place until 7 August.
- Swan Road – Closed for Yorkshire Water mains replacement until 11 September.
- Lady Lane, Beckwithshaw – Long-term road closure for sewer works until 27 November.
🚦 Knaresborough
- Bond End – Four-way temporary traffic lights with delays throughout the day.
- Thistle Hill & Bondgate Green – Temporary signals slowing traffic on surrounding routes.
🚘 Ripon & Surrounding Areas
- Bondgate Green – Temporary traffic lights affecting local journeys.
- A1(M) – Overnight lane closures and maintenance works. Allow extra travel time if travelling late evening or overnight.
Before You Travel
Traffic conditions can change throughout the day. Check the latest North Yorkshire roadworks and live traffic updates before you leave, especially during the morning and evening rush hours.
Planning a day out? A few minutes checking your route could save you a long delay and help you make the most of your journey across Harrogate, Knaresborough, and Ripon.
………………………………………………………………..
Roadworks 28/07/26
- A61 Ripon/Leeds Road: Rolling delays and temporary lights near Crescent Road and St George’s Road due to electrical utility work.
- A59 Skipton Road: Heavy congestion from active construction and development traffic management.
- Crescent Road: Westbound closure active between Montpellier Road and Parliament Street for utility repairs.
- Town Centre: Intermittent temporary lights near the Empress Roundabout and central junctions. [1]
- Knaresborough Routes: Ongoing localised delays and temporary signals around Bond End, Thistle Hill, and Bondgate Green.
- Ripon Area: Active temporary traffic lights and minor road maintenance points affecting local approaches and Bondgate Green.
- A1(M) Closures: Overnight southbound and northbound resurfacing and maintenance works causing localised late-night diversions near Ripon (Junction 50).
-
Roadworks, road closures and diversions
View our interactive map of roadworks, scheduled road closures and diversions.
Current emergency road and bridge closures
During adverse weather conditions, it is an ever changing situation on our roads. Please respect road closure signs and do not drive through flood water.
Road Status – – Planned roadworks
You can view information about planned roadworks in our area using our interactive online map as well as via our Twitter feed.
Our interactive map is searchable and shows details about dates, severity of impact, and who is responsible for the works. You can also sign up for email alerts for roadworks in your area.
Launch interactive roadworks map
https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-travel/roads-and-pavements/roadworks-map
Motorways and trunk roads such as the A1, A1(M), M62, A66, A66(M), A64, A168 (Dishforth to Thirsk) and A19 (north of Thirsk) are the responsibility of Highways England. For travel updates on these roads, you can follow Highways England Yorkshire and Highways England North East on Twitter.
Alert Roadworks
