Motorists travelling into Leeds city centre are being encouraged to plan their journeys in advance as works to Bishopgate Street and Neville Street begin shortly.
Motorists travelling into Leeds city centre are being encouraged to plan their journeys in advance as works to Bishopgate Street and Neville Street begin shortly.
From week commencing 23 May, Bishopgate Street and Neville Street will both be reduced to one lane for traffic travelling in towards the city centre.
The lane closures are expected to last until the end of the year, and come ahead of proposed work to close City Square to through traffic, which is expected to begin from later this year subject to final approval.
The closures will allow for preliminary works to be carried out ahead of major improvements to the main entrance to Leeds City Station, which will see both New Station Street and Bishopgate Street transformed into safer and more pedestrian-friendly spaces as part of the Transforming Cities Fund Leeds Station Sustainable Travel Gateway scheme.
Leeds City Council and its partners will be working to keep any disruption to a minimum, and businesses in the area will be open as usual with access maintained. However the works are likely to lead to congestion for vehicles travelling into the city centre along Bishopgate Street and Neville Street.
Motorists who would normally drive into the city using these roads are encouraged to plan their journeys and consider alternative ways to travel.
This could include:
- Using Park and Ride schemes such as Stourton, Elland Road and Temple Green.
- Travelling by bus or rail.
- Cycling or walking into the city.
- Motorists who have no option other than to drive should consider travelling outside of peak times where possible, or use alternative routes into the city such as using Junction 4 of the M621 instead of Junction 3 and also Junction 2, which is likely to be affected by ongoing works on the Armley Gyratory.
To prepare for this closure and subsequent works, Leeds visitors, workers and residents are being urged to plan ahead (search Plan Ahead Leeds or visit www.leeds.gov.uk/planahead) before travelling and to sign up for regular email updates or follow Connecting Leeds on social media.
There will also be highways signage, with targeted communications in affected areas.
Leeds City Councillor Helen Hayden, executive member for infrastructure and climate, said: “We appreciate these works will cause some disruption and we are working to keep this to a minimum and we thank people in advance for their patience. However the works are essential in order to begin the major transformational work at the entrance to the station, and it’s important that we encourage people to plan ahead to reduce any affect it has on their journey.
“At the same time, as these works begin ahead of the proposed upcoming closure of City Square to through-traffic, we hope that this acts as an opportunity for motorists to consider how they travel into the city and consider alternative modes of transport over the longer-term.”
The works on Bishopgate Street have been planned to follow the recent closure of Armley Gyratory during one weekend in April, and will follow the re-opening of the A64 Regent Street flyer, to minimise further disruption on the highway network.
As well as being part of the delivery of the Leeds Station Sustainable Travel Gateway scheme, the works will contribute to the transformative highways works being delivered across the city which will enable public transport, walking, cycling and public realm plans to be realised in the city.
About the Leeds Station Sustainable Travel Gateway
The preliminary works come ahead of the start of the Leeds Station Sustainable Travel Gateway scheme, which begins later this year and will see a £39.5 million investment to significantly improve the station’s main entrance and surrounding area.
With the number of rail passengers using the station forecast to increase significantly over the next 20 years, the works are necessary to meet capacity demands and make sure that people can enter, exit and wait for services safely to meet Network Rail’s security standards.
New Station Street will become a much improved and safer pedestrian-friendly environment, with vehicle traffic removed with the exception of service deliveries and emergency vehicles. The area’s appearance will be improved and a variety of access options provided, including the installation of wider, safer steps outside the entrance of the station and two large passenger lifts between New Station Street and Bishopgate Street.
The taxi rank will move to Bishopgate Street and will be designed to allow passengers to access vehicles from the kerbside which will help people with wheelchairs or assistance dogs to board more easily, as well as those with luggage. There will be room for six vehicles, and the rank will be well-lit and sheltered with seating at different heights.
The improvements will be delivered by Leeds City Council in partnership with West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Network Rail as landowner, and are funded by the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund. The overall works are due for completion in early 2024.
For more information on the Leeds Station Sustainable Travel Gateway, visit https://leedscitystation.commonplace.is/
