NORTH Yorkshire County Council is calling on the Government to give it £32m for vital road works including two schemes to improve routes in the Dales.

The authority is responsible for 5,600 miles of roads and is facing a huge maintenance crisis. It has earmarked £50 million over the next seven years to be spent on the roads, with a further £38 million spent this year on immediate work to keep the transport system moving.

Now the council has asked for a further injection of cash from a special Challenge Fund set up by the Government for one off major maintenance schemes.

The council needs £25 million to carry out long term work on two vital routes through the Yorkshire Dales which have been plagued by problems.

The A6108/B6270 corridor between Reeth and Richmond is the only low-level route into Swaledale but is notoriously unstable.

In spring 2014 the road was closed for nearly 12 weeks when major repairs were carried out after part of the road collapsed. Many communities in the upper dales were left having to make huge detours.

The plan is to provide a long-term solution with work to stabilise the three highest-risk locations on the route, but this will cost about £16m.

Cllr Gareth Dadd, executive member for highways, said: “In common with the rest of the country, North Yorkshire is facing the challenge of having to make huge savings.

“However, we understand that good roads are vital for day-to-day travelling, business, pleasure and economic prosperity. That is why we will continue to make the best use of our budget and seek additional funding wherever possible, such as through the Government’s Challenge Fund.”

The authority is also asking for £9 million for long term work on the A59 at Kex Gill, between Harrogate and Skipton, which links communities to the A1. There have been repeated landslips which have led to closures of more than two weeks at a time.

The bid also includes an application for £6.7 million towards major structural work on the Selby bypass which needs extensive permanent repairs. Work is currently being done to ensure the bypass remains safe during winter but extensive repairs are due to take place in April.

The Challenge Fund was launched by the Government last autumn. It allows highway authorities to bid for funding for major maintenance projects that are difficult to fund through their normal allocations. A decision on the bids is expected in spring.