Motorists travelling across a key east–west route through the Yorkshire Dales will now receive earlier warnings of flooding following the expansion of a state-of-the-art electronic detection system.
North Yorkshire Council has installed three additional electronic warning signs along the A684, supplementing several others that were introduced three years ago on the well-used route.
The new signs have been installed at Warlaby crossroads and on both approaches to the eastern Bedale bypass roundabout. The total cost of the signs and associated construction work was approximately £100,000.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for highways and transport, Cllr Malcolm Taylor, said the A684 is a vital strategic route linking the North Yorkshire Moors and the Yorkshire Dales, an area that frequently experiences heavy and prolonged rainfall.
“Before the new system was installed, we relied on members of the public to report flooding before staff could attend and manually put up warning signs,” he said. “This new system provides a quicker and more efficient way to keep road users informed and safe.”
The electronic flood detectors use sensors that automatically activate warning signs when water reaches a level that would flood the carriageway. The signs can also be used to warn drivers of other road closures.
Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, North Yorkshire Council member for the Morton-on-Swale area, helped fund the scheme through her locality budget and worked with highways officers, parish councils and village groups to address the long-standing flooding issues.
“As soon as we experience prolonged wet weather, residents and road users are understandably concerned about whether the bridge is affected,” she said. “Flooding inevitably causes significant disruption, so I’m delighted these signs are now in place. They will provide long-term reassurance for everyone travelling along the route.”
In 2022, a £418,000 flood detection system—the first of its kind in North Yorkshire—was installed at flooding hotspots on the A684 with funding from the Government’s Safer Roads Fund. That project saw seven electronic signs installed between Bainbridge, Worton, Asygarth, West Witton and Wensley.
The latest signs were installed by SWARCO Traffic. Regional operations manager Brian McFarlane said lessons learned from previous flood resilience projects had helped refine the system.
“Our close collaboration with the council has allowed us to develop an approach tailored to the real challenges faced by local communities,” he said. “We’re extremely pleased with the successful delivery of this project.”
The scheme has been funded through the council’s Economic, Regeneration, Tourism and Transport Project Development Fund Agreement, along with support from the Environment Agency via the West Yorkshire Flood Innovation Programme (WYFLIP).
Information about road closures is shared via North Yorkshire Council’s social media channels and on its online roadworks map.
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