Long-delayed work to improve road safety at Stanningley Bottom is set to start next week.
The work will hope to address road safety concerns over mini roundabouts – known as roundels – which were installed as part of the multi-million pound City Connect cycle superhighway linking Bradford and Leeds.
A petition with more than 2,000 names led by Phil Townend, proprietor of Philip Nicholas barbers, had been calling for improvements in the area following a series of near misses, minor bumps and road rage incidents.
Works are planned to start on Monday 30th October. A letter to be delivered to businesses and residents says the contractor’s working hours will be Monday to Wednesday, from 9.30am to 3.30pm, and temporary two-way signals will be in place in the Bradford Road and Town Street area of Stanningley for around two weeks.
The road will be closed completely between 8am to 6pm on Sunday 5th, 12th and 19th November.
Highways maintenance engineer Russell Martin said:
“Pedestrian access will be available at all times and every effort will be made to maintain access to your property throughout the working period, however there will be occasions when access by vehicle is restricted. Your co-operation in ensuring your vehicle is not parked on the carriageway during the works would be appreciated.
“I would like to take this opportunity to apologise for any inconvenience and assure you that every effort will be made to keep disruption to a minimum.”
Proposed improvements include textured over-run areas, together with a larger central margin in the road. It’s hoped the changes should slow motorists’ speeds on the approaches to the roundels.
The area is meant to be a shared space between motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, but Mr Townend argues the road isn’t wide enough for it.
The Dispatch highlighted last month that work had been delayed and that campaigners had been left waiting more than a year for measures to be introduced.
Only time will tell that these improvements will make the junction safer.If not we all need to lobby again.It is alright for transport planners they probably do not use the junction.It is the local motorists that are having to dice with danger on the daily commute.
Tell me this is a joke. We’ve already got the long planned on-going road works on Swinnow Lane which has made it one way between Stanningley road and Intake Lane. Yesterday then saw Swinnow Lane closed yet again between Stanningley Road and Swinnow Road due to a bust water main meaning emergency repairs are taking place.