West Leeds bus services will be affected as works start on a major £8.9million transformation of travel infrastructure on Infirmary Street next month.
From Monday, 24 February Connecting Leeds will begin work to turn the city centre street into a two-way road designed for bus and cycle priority access.
Some bus stops will be relocated to areas with wider footways for passengers to wait, and bus facilities will be upgraded. Bus-only restrictions will create more space to improve bus journey time reliability, with the work expected to be completed by winter 2020.
Buses affected in West Leeds include:
Service 42
Service 42 to remain on Stand H Infirmary Street (26348) until June 2020. In the direction towards Easterly Road service 42 will not observe F3 on York Street.
Service X11
Service X11 to remain on Stand H Infirmary Street (26348) until June 2020
Service 35
Service 35 – From 23 February 2020 service 35 will terminate on Park Row and not operate through to Leeds Bus Station Service 35 route towards Leeds via normal route to Kirkstall Road then via West Street A58, slip road, Park Lane, Westgate Y2 (alighting only), The Headrow Y6 (alighting only, Park Row to terminate at P3 (10702) until P1 (10700) becomes available at the end of the Yorkshire Water Works.
Towards Greengates via Park Row, City Square to start service at S3 Wellington Street (13156) then via normal route to Greengates. During the duration of the Yorkshire Water works P1 is suspended and the first pick up point from service 35 is on Wellington Street – when YW works are completed service 35 will start operation again from P1.
Service 508
Service 508 route towards Leeds via normal route to Kirkstall Road (stop 11767) then via A58 slip road, Park Lane, Westgate, The Headrow to Park Row to terminate at P3 (for six weeks until P1 becomes available again) Towards Halifax via Park Row from P3 (10702) then via City Square, Wellington Street S3 (13156) then via normal route to Halifax
Leeds City Council executive board member for climate change, transport and sustainable development Councillor Lisa Mulherin said:
“These plans are the next step on our journey to improve public transport reliability across the city centre for the future, to improve cycling and walking facilities and a further step towards our aim of increasing the pedestrianisation of the city centre.
“While the works are carried out, there will unavoidably be some disruption for bus users, drivers, residents and people visiting the city centre, but we will work with the contractors, bus operators, local residents and the combined authority to limit this as much as possible.
“We would like to thank everyone for their ongoing patience while we carry out these essential works. We believe the long-term benefits the scheme will bring to public transport, active travel, public space and clean air within the city centre will be transformational.”
The current bus site is over 30 years old and the changes will enhance the waiting and boarding environment at this location.
Additionally, works will take place in City Square which will result in a temporary bus stop being used at P5 whilst the shelter is removed and replaced. Infirmary Street is expected to be completed by the end of 2020.
At the same time Yorkshire Water are replacing a mains water pipe on Park Row as part of the wider Headrow scheme which has resulted in a number of bus stop suspensions and bus services relocations on Park Row.