A TEMPORARY bridge to take traffic during the strengthening of Pool Bridge is fully operational - and traffic seems to be running smoothly.

Vehicles will use the 200 tonnes Bailey Bridge across the River Wharfe until the project, costing almost £700,000, is finished at the end of August.

Despite a 20 mph speed limit and the necessary road diversions around the Shell filling station to get over the river, traffic appears to be flowing well.

Pool resident and community group 2020 chairman Bernard Mitchinson said: "Traffic seems to run smoothly, but the lights at the other end of the village near the White Hart seem to be causing a bit of congestion, but traffic is still moving well.

"I think everyone is quite happy with the way work is going."

The Bailey Bridge - which has cost £360,000 to put up - was pulled into place by boat and the temporary road surface was laid at the beginning of March.

Around 20 Leeds City Council engineers and contractors have been working on the project to strengthen the bridge on the A658 Harrogate Road since early January. The aim is to reinforce the foundations of the bridge to allow it to take 44 tonne vehicles - in line with a European directive which requires all major roads in Europe to take heavy vehicles.

Crossing patrol warden William Shears said that the telling time for the traffic build up will be over the Easter period.

"It could be busy, because traffic has been heavy over the weekend, but I am amazed at how well traffic is flowing through the village."

Now the Bailey Bridge is up and running council archaeologists are due to take part in the investigations of the old Grade II listed bridge to see what lies beneath.

It is hoped the bridge will be open again by the end of July or middle of August.

Meanwhile traffic calming work at the junction of the A659 Arthington Lane and the A658 Main Street is nearly complete.