The latest Connecting Leeds Newsletter is below:
Connecting Leeds Newsletter
February 2024
Welcome to the February Connecting Leeds newsletter. Catch up on the latest travel updates, road safety information, and infrastructure developments shaping Leeds' highways this month.
New York Road Tunnel closes for essential maintenance until Autumn
Leeds City Council, in collaboration with Balfour Beatty, have announced the temporary closure of New York Road Tunnel from Monday, 12 February until autumn, as part of crucial maintenance work on the New York Road Flyover.
This important project, which is necessary in order to make sure that this key section of the Leeds inner ring road remains safe to use, involves replacing 27 of the bridge's bearings to keep the flyover sturdy.
Due to the complicated nature of the task, especially given the flyover's age, the decision to close the tunnel was made to ensure minimal disruption, enhance safety, and speed up the project's completion.
Find more information in our press release, and you can plan ahead with alternative routes here.
Transpennine Route Upgrade: Amended timetable up to 25 February
Rail passengers travelling between Leeds, Dewsbury and Huddersfield are being urged to check before they travel as the Transpennine Route Upgrade’s engineering work will impact rail services this month.
From Monday 19 to Friday 23 February an amended timetable will be in place, with train services re-routed and not calling at all stations. Rail replacement buses will also be in place.
In addition, on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 February, engineers will be completing upgrades around Huddersfield. Customers are advised to plan ahead and check before they travel on the day.
Read more & plan your journey here, or by visiting National Rail.
M1 Safety improvements set to begin in March
National Highways will commence major upgrades on the M1 in West Yorkshire this March, focusing on a 10-mile stretch between junctions 43 and 47.
The project involves replacing the existing wire rope barrier with a more robust concrete version, aimed at preventing vehicles from crossing carriageways and reducing the risk of incidents. This initiative, expected to span over sixteen months across two phases, will not only improve safety for daily commuters but also alleviate congestion caused by accidents.
The first phase, starting in March between junctions 46 and 47, will last about seven months, followed by the second phase between junctions 43 and 45 beginning in August, which includes enhancements to lighting.
National Highways advises planning journeys in advance and considering alternative routes during this period. Overnight closures for traffic management setup will also occur, starting Friday 1 March, with signed diversions in place to mitigate disruption.
Watch: Replacement of footbridge at Armley Gyratory
Leeds City Council removed and replaced Armley Gyratory’s Gelderd Road footbridge in a single weekend last month, with the project completing five hours ahead of schedule.
This operation is part of a broader initiative to replace three aged footbridges from the early 1970s, improving accessibility with more accommodating footways for pedestrians, people with pushchairs, and disabled people.
The Gelderd Road footbridge, a substantial structure with a 24.9-meter beam weighing around 75 tonnes, was removed using a self-propelled modular transporter (SPMT) and is set to be recycled. This initiative underscores Leeds City Council's commitment to sustainable urban development.
Over 550 trees planted for Armley Gyratory improvement scheme
Volunteers, councillors and the project team delivering the Armley Gyratory works planted 350 trees in the local area this winter, bringing the total planted in the last two years to 556.
Last year 206 trees were planted, with a variety of species including Walnut, Maple, Lime, Hornbeam, and Oaks. The aim is to plant over 660 new trees, demonstrating the council's commitment to biodiversity and community involvement.
Read more about our tree planting efforts and our latest works at Armley Gyratory.
Final chance to feed back on issues along Woodhouse Lane
Today (Monday 19 February) is the final day to have your say on travel or place related issues between the city centre and the Hyde Park and Woodhouse areas of Leeds.
Residents, businesses, students and commuters are being asked to identify current issues, what changes they would like to see, and what should be prioritised on the 2km route along Woodhouse Lane and Albion Street from St Mark’s Road to the Headrow in the city centre.
The route suffers from a high casualty rate with 98 reported casualties happening since 2016, including 23 serious collisions. Feedback from the consultation will be used to address the high number of casualties in the area and develop plans for a safer and more welcoming environment. The next stage of consultation will go out to the public later this year.
Operation SPARC
Operation SPARC (Supporting Partnership Action to Reduce Road Casualties) is a West Yorkshire Police initiative aimed at tackling dangerous driving and improving road safety.
Between July 2020 and December 2023, 259 offences involving hand-held devices were recorded in Leeds. 51 offences were recorded in December 2023 alone. The next Police campaign will run from late February to early March 2024.
Since 2022 it’s been illegal to use a hand-held mobile device for any reason when driving or riding a motorcycle. Drivers distracted by mobile devices are four times more likely to be involved in a crash.
If you’re caught driving or riding while using a hand-held device you could get 6 penalty points and could receive a £200 fixed penalty notice or a fine of up to £1,000 (£2,500 if you’re a bus or lorry driver).
Leeds City Council is working with partners to achieve the Vision Zero Strategy that by 2040 no one will be killed or suffer serious injuries on roads in Leeds.
Information about Operation SPARC can be found in the Leeds Vision Zero 2040 Strategy here .
