The Government has given the green light for major improvements to the Dawsons Corner junction and to complete joint replacement work on the Stanningley Bypass.
The Department of Transport has agreed to provide £35.709 million funding towards the scheme which Leeds City Council hopes will reduce congestion and delays helping to support economic growth across Leeds and Bradford.
Improvements will see better traffic flow, with bus journey times also reduced and improved safer crossing facilities for cyclists and pedestrians. Road users have seen congestion worsen over the years, particularly slowing down buses between Leeds and Bradford.
Today’s funding forms part of a £42.679 million package, with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority contributing £6.97m and a contribution from the council.
Subject to contractor approvals the main works are planned to start later this year and will take up to 15 months to complete.
The scheme will:
- Provide pedestrian and cycling facilities at the Dawsons Corner junction, linking in with the Leeds Bradford Cycle Superhighway
- Improved bus facilities with dedicated bus lanes on the A647 Bradford Road
- Widen the carriageway on the A6120 Ring Road to improve the junction and accommodate a shared pedestrian and cycle route
- Widen the A647 Stanningley Bypass to accommodate additional traffic lanes
- Replace joints on the A647 Stanningley Bypass to mitigate potential road traffic collisions thereby enabling the current 50mph speed limit to be kept; and
- Provide landscaping for the enlarged site at Dawsons Corner.
Rachel Reeves, Chancellor and MP for Leeds West and Pudsey, said: “The improvements announced today will have a transformational impact for people across Leeds and Bradford. For too long, local residents have had to endure high levels of congestion on this key route between the two cities.
“This Labour Government is taking action to boost economic growth across the region, and this scheme is just one of many that will help unlock Yorkshire’s potential.”
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, said: “The need to improve Dawsons Corner junction has been a major priority for some time.
“It’s important not only to improve traffic flow and air quality, but also support essential links to future housing growth and developments and for people to be able to access jobs more easily with consistent travel times.”
The Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood, said: “Road users in Leeds and Bradford have experienced slow speeds on the A647 for too long, discouraging people from using local buses on the road.
“We’re giving this vital scheme the green light, and providing £35m, which will improve local journeys and boost the economy beyond.”
Cllr Peter Carlill (Lab, Calverley & Farsley), Deputy Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee, said: “It’s great to support this scheme and see it secure further funding to help improve transport so that people can get around more easily.
“This will help us create a greener, better-connected region through improved walking and cycling routes, cleaner air, safer roads, and reduced traffic congestion.”
The scheme was granted planning permission in October 2022 and business case was submitted in March 2024 with preparatory ground investigation work under way and the safety critical repair works to Stanningley Bypass have been on-going since May 2021.
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How will this work fit in with the planned Tram system? Or has that been forgotten about now?
I seem to have been reading about this proposed scheme for years now which is typical of the snails pace approach to transport improvements in Leeds. The Armley Gyratory project is already 2 years behind schedule having originally been due for completion in 2023.
Given that two of the proposed routes for the Leeds to Bradford mass transit scheme run though the Dawsons Corner junction, it seems utter madness to me to be making major changes to this area. Mayor Brabin has after all promised “spades in the ground” on the West Yorkshire mass transit system by 2028.
Waste of money, years of extra delays now expected and when its done, other than a nice new tarmac, I bet it doesn’t make much or any difference to traffic flow.
Why don’t they forget about this and remove parking charges at Parks, remove the threat of Bowling greens being closed down, remove threats to close Pudsey Civic Hall and still have probably £25 million left for proper orad resurfacing and potholes.
Read the article, there are different funding pots – Department for Transport are not going to fund bowling greens. Investment in improving infrastructure is always needed.