Work to build a new bus lane as part of a £16 million scheme tackling traffic congestion between Leeds and Bradford will finally start this week following a number of delays.
A new website detailing the different phases of work along the A647 has gone live here – and has confirmed that the central islands on Armley Road will start to be removed this week.
Work will also start on the proposed outward bus lane on Armley Road.
The A647 Bus Priority Corridor construction works feature a raft of measures including replacing the current high occupancy vehicle lanes on Stanningley Road with extended bus lanes and further bus priority measures.
Main elements of the scheme include:
- Introducing new bus lanes in key locations where buses are currently impacted by congestion
- Reconfiguring the Ledgard Way junction to increase its capacity
- Introducing new pedestrian crossings
- Improving cycling infrastructure in key locations to build on the existing Cycle Superhighway
Leeds highways chiefs hope the scheme will deliver reduced travel time for buses and general traffic, more reliable bus journey times and safer and better quality environment for pedestrians and cyclists.
Critics of the scheme say it will lead to more traffic congestion and rat running, particularly in the Armley area.
Work was originally due to start in May but were postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Key works along the corridor, both east and westbound include:
- Bus lanes along Bradford Road between Dawsons Corner and Thornbury Gyratory
- Bus lane westbound on Armley Road
- The conversion of the existing High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes along Stanningley Bypass and Stanningley Road to a bus lane
- New pedestrian crossings and cycle lanes
- Improvements to various signalised junctions to improve crossing facilities and junction performance to allow bus priority, including Ledgard Way junction, Pickering Street junctions, Swinnow Lane junction and Hough Lane junction
- Introduction of a bus gate at the end of the new bus lane on Stanningley Road to give bus priority
- The relocation and reorganisation of bus stops along the corridor to improve the passenger experience
The scheme is due to be completed by summer 2022.