There are reports of a major accident near Huby this morning on the A658 Harrogate Road.
The crash happened close to the Leathley Farm Shop and Cafe around 8am this morning with delays from Poole in Wharfedale to Huby.
It is unclear at this time how many vehicles were involved at this time. We have asked North Yorkshire Police for a response.
The Stray Ferret has changed the way it offers Traffic and Travel alerts.
We will now notify you instantly through app notifications and flash tweets when there is an urgent alert. This could include heavy traffic, dangerous weather and long delays or cancellations of public transport.
The alerts are sponsored by The HACS Group.
Traffic and Travel Alert: Traffic slow but no major delays at J47 and J48 of A1 (M) following an accident between J44 and J45Traffic is still building on the A1 (M) following a collision which forced police to close lanes on the A1 (M), in both directions, between J44 (Leeds) and J45 (Boston Spa).
The southbound carriageway remains closed between these junctions. Heading northbound two lanes have now been reopened.
Traffic is slower around J47 (Knaresborough) and J48 (Boroughbridge) in the Harrogate district but no major delays have been reported.
The accident involved a vehicle hitting the central reservation, National Highways contractors are currently on scene along with specialist vehicle recovery.
If you’re heading towards J44 and J45 for Leeds, Wetherby or Boston Spa there are delays of around 30 minutes. .
National Highways has asked commuters to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journey.
For more information on diversions in place, click here.
The Stray Ferret has changed the way it offers Traffic and Travel alerts.
We will now notify you instantly through app notifications and flash tweets when there is an urgent alert. This could include heavy traffic, dangerous weather and long delays or cancellations of public transport.
The alerts are sponsored by The HACS Group.
Heavy traffic on A1(M) at Boroughbridge eight hours after crash
Update at 4.20pm
The A1(M) has now fully reopened following a serious crash between Ripon and Boroughbridge.
Highways England said there is four and a half miles of congestion following the closure.
Update: The #A1M in #NorthYorkshire has reopened fully following an earlier incident between J49 #Ripon and J48 #Boroughbridge. There is 4.5 miles of congestion following this closure so please allow time for these delays to clear. Safe journey. pic.twitter.com/ImHpv6HZrI
— National Highways: Yorkshire (@HighwaysYORKS) December 9, 2021
Update at 2.35pm
North Yorkshire Police has said the southbound A1(M) has finally reopened but traffic remains heavy.
https://twitter.com/NYorksPolice/status/1468950384135716865
Update at 12.40pm
Drivers have been turned around on the A1(M) southbound carriageway to get them off the motorway while the emergency services deal with a serious crash between Ripon and Boroughbridge.
North Yorkshire Police said it received reports of a single vehicle crash just before 9am. The road has not yet reopened.
It is unclear at this time the extent of any injuries suffered in the crash or when the closure will be lifted.
A Thirsk resident Charles Allen told the Stray Ferret that he had been sat in traffic for more than three hours. He added:
“I was planning to go to Oxford this morning on business to see a client. I left Thirsk around 9.15am so was stuck in traffic for hours.
“The A1(M) was absolute carnage. We were turned around, so we were driving north on the southbound carriage. The surrounding roads are also heavily congested.”
Police have closed the A1(M) southbound carriageway between Ripon and Boroughbridge due to a serious accident just before 9am today.
The air ambulance is on the scene along with all of the other emergency services this morning.
Currently there are delays of 30 minutes but they are expected to increase. Allow extra time for your journey or avoid the area if possible.
North Yorkshire Police has tweeted some details about the incident.
https://twitter.com/NYorksPolice/status/1468890383602098192
National Highways has also tweeted about the incident.
The #A1M is closed southbound between J49 (#Ripon) and J48 (#Boroughbridge) following a single vehicle collision. All emergency services including the air ambulance are working at the scene. Please allow extra time for your journey as delays of 30 minutes on the approach. pic.twitter.com/wwMg2Tz2ZB
— National Highways: Yorkshire (@HighwaysYORKS) December 9, 2021
This is a breaking news story which we will update as we get more information.
Calls for ‘dangerous’ Starbeck junction to be improvedA Starbeck councillor has called for a notorious junction to be made safer following a car crash on Wednesday.
The collision occurred when a car pulled out of The Avenue onto Starbeck High Street at around midday. Two men were taken to hospital but their injuries are not thought to be serious.
A police officer at the scene told the Stray Ferret collisions are common at the junction due to visibility issues. Cars often park in the lay-by next to the junction and a tree also obscures the view for motorists pulling out.
Liberal Democrat councillor Philip Broadbank, who has represented the area for over 40 years, called on North Yorkshire County Council‘s highways department to take a look at the junction to make it safer.
He said residents in more than 350 homes frequently used The Avenue to get onto the high street.
Cllr Broadbank told the Stray Ferret:
“It’s a problem for people trying to get out as it’s difficult to see. Vision is a problem and it’s dangerous.
“We need to look at the lay-by issue.”
He said there have previously been calls to add traffic lights “but there are enough traffic lights down there”.
He added:
“Its a problem as people get frustrated trying to inch out.”
Read more:
- Two men taken to hospital after Starbeck car crash
- Knaresborough and Starbeck pools: still no reopening dates
Several Stray Ferret readers responded to Wednesday’s story to say the junction was unsafe.
One said:
“Turning out of and into The Avenue is a nightmare. Visibility down toward the level crossing is terrible so you have to edge out.”
Another said:
“The trees need cutting on that junction, you can’t see to go there!”.
Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at North Yorkshire County Council, which is the highways authority, said:
Car crash causing delays on Harrogate’s Leeds Road“We take our road safety responsibilities seriously and will always act should there be a need to do so.
“In this instance, we await details of the incident from the police, but are unaware of particular safety issues with this junction.
“Care should always be taken when exiting from a side road on to a main road which is always very busy.”
A car accident is causing heavy disruption on Leeds Road in Harrogate this afternoon.
Officers from North Yorkshire Police are currently diverting traffic as only one lane remains open.
Read more:
Drivers are urged to avoid the area.
An eye witness told the Stray Ferret at 4pm this afternoon:
“Traffic is backed up all the way to and beyond the Prince of Wales roundabout and as far as the eye can see down Leeds Road.”