By Harry Ward
Highway improvements have been completed between Horsforth and Pudsey as part of a £23m scheme to upgrade the Leeds outer ring road.
The Connecting West Leeds project has delivered new footpaths and cycleways, junction upgrades and a reduced 50mph speed limit on the A6120 between Horsforth roundabout and Dawsons Corner.
Leeds City Council said the changes were designed to make the route safer, cut congestion and encourage more people to walk or cycle.
The improvements, which took about a year, include upgraded cycle and walking routes, a longer merge lane at Horsforth roundabout to ease traffic, and restrictions on right turns out of Calverley Bridge and Calverley Lane.
Landscaping has been added along the route and speed cameras will enforce the new 50mph limit between Horsforth and the Stanningley bypass.
Work will begin early next year on the final part of the project – an accessible footbridge over the ring road near Calverley Lane. The bridge, due to take about 12 months to complete, is intended to link the communities of Calverley and Farsley.
The £23m programme has been supported by £20m from the government’s Levelling Up Fund, with the remainder from local sources.
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, deputy leader of Leeds City Council and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, said:
“I hope more people will use the segregated cycle paths, that make the route much safer and more accessible for active travel.
“The new accessible footbridge over the A6120 Ring Road Farsley near Calverley Lane, when constructed next year, will provide vital new connections between Calverley and Farsley.
“Although it’s great to see yet another project complete, we are conscious that there’s still a lot of other work taking place around the city. We are working hard to deliver these as swiftly as possible, while minimising disruption wherever we can.”
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Very excited about this! The direct route between Horsforth and Farsley was always horrible to try to reach by bike, but now I can use it directly it’ll save me loads of time when crossing over each side.
I use this road daily at various times of the day and I don’t recall seeing more than 3 people on the cycle lane!