‘I don’t think it’s fair’: Council to seek compensation over roads damage caused by A1(M) delays

The authority’s senior councillor responsible for the district’s road network made the comments days before National Highways confirmed work to repair a viaduct in Pontefract would finally be completed before Christmas.

The £30m project has led to delays on the parts of A1 and the A1(M) for almost three years, with claims it had led to drivers “rat running” through local villages.

Work on the Wentbridge Viaduct and Wentedge Road Bridge began in February 2023 and was meant to finish by summer 2024.

The completion date was then pushed back after defects were discovered.

Both carriageways have been reduced to single lanes through the roadworks, leading to repeated tailbacks in the area.

Matthew Morley, the council’s portfolio holder for planning and highways, said diversions had led to local roads being “adversely affected.”

He made the comments following a cabinet meeting last week, in response to a written question from a resident who asked: “Who will pay for fixing them? Shouldn’t this come from the National Highways budget rather than local highways.”

Coun Morley replied that it felt like the roadworks had “been going for decades.”

He said: “It does feel like they have gone on, and on, and on. I think sometimes National Highways should have a bit more accountability then what they actually have.

“I share these frustrations but I don’t think there is any legislation where we can claim the money back.

“I think there should be for what it has done to our district’s roads. It is something that we are going to look at to see if we can recoup any of the costs.”

Coun Morley added: “We do keep the condition of the roads under review but if we don’t get the money back from the National Highways it will be us that have to fund them at the end of the day.

“I don’t think that’s fair when their diversions are affecting our residents and affecting our roads.”

National Highways confirmed on Wednesday that the road would be fully re-opened by December 7.

John Stebbing, National Highways programme delivery manager, said: “We know road users and residents alike will be pleased that we’ve been able to complete this very complex project, which included both the viaduct and a local road bridge, ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

“Once again we’d like to thank road users but especially local residents for their patience and support since we started these vital repairs back in 2023.”