By Don Mort, local democracy reporter
Repairs are set to be carried out on the city’s roads following an £11.6m investment by Leeds City Council.
The maintenance programme includes work on bridges, tunnels and other structures around the Leeds road network.
The Leeds Inner Ring Road is included in the repairs scheme as part of a wider improvement programme over the coming decades.
Calverley River Bridge has been allocated £3.5m for essential maintenance as part of the current year’s spending.
A council report said a contractor had already been appointed to start work on the bridge, which was being supported by temporary scaffolding.
It said: “Maintaining traffic flow over Calverley River Bridge is essential to prevent major disruption on the network.”
Weight restrictions or closure of the bridge may be needed without the repairs, causing traffic congestion on the route.
The report said: “At this point a replacement bridge would be required.”
Currently, the state of the inner ring road (LIRR) was being managed with short-term repairs.
The longer term strategy for LIRR would include 5km of retaining walls and 16 “critical” bridges and tunnels.
The report said: “Currently, the LIRR structures are managed through a deterioration strategy, with only reactive maintenance being undertaken.
“Essential maintenance is required over the coming decades to prevent extensive disruption to the city, should the structures deteriorate to a point of failure.”
The inner ring road accommodates 83,000 vehicles a day, the report said, and takes half the traffic redirected from the closure of City Square.
The current year’s maintenance funding includes cash from the council’s capital budget and central government.
The report recommends the allocation of funding for a list of at-risk road structures.
It is classed as a “key” decision, worth more than £500,000, so could be subject to scrutiny from councillors.
Sponsored content
