Drivers face 73-mile diversion during A170 Sutton Bank closure

The A170 at Sutton Bank, between Thirsk and Helmsley, closed at 7am on Sunday, September 13, and is due to remain shut until 7pm on Sunday, October 4.

North Yorkshire Council has closed the steep section of the A170 for its annual maintenance programme, with this year’s closure extended to three weeks to allow additional drainage and repair work to be carried out.

Roadworks information published on the one.network platform shows a signed diversion of 117.2km, equivalent to around 72.8 miles.

The alternative route is estimated to take drivers about two hours to complete.

Sutton Bank forms part of the A170, which runs between Thirsk and Scarborough, with the affected stretch climbing from the Vale of York towards the North York Moors. North Yorkshire Council describes it as a key east-west route across the county.

According to the one.network diversion information, motorists are taken away from Sutton Bank through a lengthy series of roads across North Yorkshire.

The route includes Cote Lane before reaching Bondgate and Linkfoot Lane in Helmsley.

Bondgate and Linkfoot Lane both form part of the road network through Helmsley, with Linkfoot Lane carrying the A170 through the town.

Drivers are then directed towards New Road before continuing along Sinnington Cliff Road and through the Sinnington and Wrelton area.

Sinnington Cliff Road forms part of the A170 near Wrelton, east of Helmsley.

The diversion continues towards Malton Road before eventually taking motorists onto a much longer section of the route.

According to one.network, drivers then travel for more than 23km on one stretch before reaching North Lane and later joining Ring Road.

The route subsequently uses Shipton Road before continuing along York Road for several substantial stretches.

Motorists are eventually directed back towards Sutton Road, completing the diversion around the closure.

In total, one.network gives the signed route as 117.2km, or approximately 72.8 miles, and estimates that it will take around two hours.

The diversion remains in force around the clock throughout the closure.

North Yorkshire Council says Sutton Bank is “undergoing planned maintenance to the rock face as well as routine road and drainage work.”

The longer closure is also allowing further drainage improvements and repairs to take place as part of a wider programme of work planned for Sutton Bank over the next three years.

The North York Moors National Park says the Sutton Bank National Park Centre remains accessible from the Helmsley side while the closure is in force, with signed diversions in place from Thirsk.

Drivers are being advised to follow the signed diversion and allow substantially more time for journeys while the A170 remains closed.