The weather has been blamed for delays in reopening the A684 in lower Wensleydale.
The road is currently closed between Leyburn Road in Constable Burton and the Wild Hill Lane and Chapel Lane junction near Finghall.
The repair work was due to be completed this month after an 11-week closure, but now it’s been put back to March 10.
North Yorkshire Council’s corporate director for environment, Karl Battersby, said: “This scheme will protect a key route in the area for the long-term and it is important that it is carried out correctly.
“Unfortunately, the recent heavy rain has slowed progress, leaving the ground waterlogged, which means we haven’t been able to keep to the original timetable.”
The delays, which mean the road will be shut over the February half-term, have angered Leyburn businessman Richard Warne, who runs Inspired Chocolate on Leyburn Business Park.
He said: “This will be three months it’s been shut, destroying Christmas trading and now half term too. Visitor numbers are decimated due to the closure — we hardly see a soul.
“How in earth do they expect tourism businesses to survive this?
They cannot even be bothered to put some signage highlighting that businesses are still open. To get to the business park from Leyburn you have to drive through multiple road closed points.
“Are they oblivious, or just don’t care about the damage they are causing to livelihoods and jobs.”
In response to the criticism, Mr Battersby said business ‘open as usual’ signs were in place at each end of the closure, with an additional sign in Leyburn Market Place and others between Leyburn and Constable Burton.
