Busy Wyther Lane Bridge is set to be closed for even longer than expected, council highways chiefs have confirmed.
The historic bridge has been closed to traffic since Monday 26 July to allow the Canal and River Trust to carry out repair work to the canal bridge following a car crash which destroyed part of the bridge in March.
The work was due to be finished by September 4 – but the road is now expected to be closed into October.
Council workmen have this week moved in to start putting up permanent traffic lights in a bid to make the bridge safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
A 500-metre trench is currently being dug to connect the traffic lights at opposite ends of the road.
A Leeds City Council spokesperson today said:
“Following repairs on Wyther Lane Bridge being delayed due to unforeseen engineering issues, Leeds City Council is now, as part of its own individual work on the project, moving forward with the installation of permanent traffic lights.
“Installation of the new traffic lights is now expected to be completed by the start of October. We would like to apologise to residents for any inconvenience whilst this essential work takes place.”
A signed diversion route is available via Raynville Road, Outgang Lane and Broad Lane.
West Leeds Dispatch has also approached the Canal and River Trust for comment.
On Monday, 15 March, a car crashed into the bridge and destroyed some of it, sparking concerns over road safety and a subsequent 691-name petition.
To make this bridge safe the footpath needs to be made wider. The footpath needs to fit a double pram and a wheel chair on.
Path needs to be wider over the bridge for mobility scooters too.
Great to hear the bridge is being sorted. I think traffic lights would be great. We really need more diversion signs though. Once cars are sent up ray vile road there’s nothing else there to signpost them so they use kirkstall Avenue!!
Never needed traffic lights before. Whag a complete joke and waste of money with no regard to what it will do to traffic build up.
I live locally and commute via the canal, and the bridge being closed has been an absolute delight. I would love it if it were permanently closed, it would be so much more accessible and would calm down the plethora of dangerous drivers that we usually see on a daily basis.