The council says the 40 million pound remodel of Armley Gyratory, which will begin next year and be completed in early 2023, will improve traffic flow in and out of the city, reduce congestion and reduce emissions.
There are plans for new pedestrian and cycle routes, traffic light controlled crossings that can manage queues more efficiently, new walkways across the A643 and A58 motorways, and a more efficient drainage system.
The local authority is also looking to upgrade the roundabout before it permanently closes a road in Leeds city center, so that it can expand City Square to create a larger public space outside Leeds Station.
However, the council accepts that months of lane closures and road works on the arterial route, which was used by roughly 100,000 vehicles a day before the Covid-19 pandemic, could have a major impact on the city’s road network.
The council originally planned to submit a planning request in 2019 and begin construction the following year, but then carried out a detailed cost review of the project, which found that £ 15 million could be saved.
After review and two public consultations, it is now looking to submit a planning request this summer so that construction can begin next year.
Highway officer Mark Philpott said the council will work with contractors, Highways England and other agencies to come up with a traffic management plan and “keep disruption to a minimum.”
The city council decided not to advance the project and carry out the work during one of the closures, when there were fewer cars on the road, since it was conducting a cost review and preparing a business case to obtain the necessary financing.
“Unfortunately, you can’t get to the site on a penny on a project like this, with the amount of development work and approvals that are needed,” Philpott said.
He also said the council did not know how long each closure would last, it had to take into account several other ongoing construction projects in the city center, including the £ 31m rebuild of the Regent Street overpass, and the Armley Gyratory. it actually remained busy throughout the year. confinements.
“The traffic flow at Armley Gyratory during the lockdown has still been very high,” he said.
“Yes, the traffic flows have clearly slowed across the network, but it has still been a very busy location.
“I think it’s maybe an illusion to think that if we had done all the work during the shutdown, there would have been no interruption.”
He added: “Armley Gyratory is known in Leeds to be a congestion point and has been a focus of concern for many people.”
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Source: www.yorkshirepost.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-05-13 19:52:15
