LONG-RUNNING roadworks in Darlington Road, Northallerton, are to be completed this weekend.

Motorists have suffered delays for three months due to a diversion. The northbound section of the A167 out of the town has been shut due to a scheme to widen the road.

The project is laying the groundwork for a new industrial estate opposite Standard Way, being constructed by Hambleton District Council.

The works were due to be completed a fortnight ago, but had suffered some setbacks. Mike Roberts, North Yorkshire County Council divisional highways officer, said the road should be re-opened in time for the town's jubilee celebrations.

"It is a major scheme and inevitably with major schemes it can take a long time," he said. "It has overrun slightly for reasons that arose during the project, but it was not anybody's fault."

In total four sets of works were carried out in tandem on the site.

"At the same time as the road widening, we have completed a highway maintenance programme, an extension to the cycle network and improved the street lighting," said Mr Roberts.

"It has taken slightly longer than expected, but has been done all in one hit, rather than having the contractors in one at a time."

l FEARS that temporary traffic lights and holes in the road could cause traffic to grind to a halt during golden jubilee celebrations at Bedale were dispelled yesterday.

For almost two weeks on one 500-yard stretch of the main A684 in Aiskew, long traffic queues have been caused by three holes and two sets of lights connected with work on a replacement gas main.

A collision was only narrowly averted on Wednesday when an impatient motorist jumped a red light.

Yesterday a Transco spokesman said it was planned to complete final connection work by last night. Reinstatement of the road and removal of the lights should be complete by tonight