Essential maintenance work on Leeds inner ring road

Essential maintenance work to one of the tunnels on Leeds Inner Ring Road starts this week.

The project includes the waterproofing of West Street tunnel, which carries the exit slip road of the inner ring road from the A58(M), and concrete repairs to both the tunnel and adjacent retaining walls.

These works cannot be carried out safely without the closure of West Street and the eastbound off slip road leading onto West Street.

In order to minimise delays to traffic, the works have been planned to overlap with the school summer holidays, when traffic volumes are usually at their lowest. The works commenced on 20 July and will last for approximately 20 weeks. The road closures will start from 27 July.

It would be helpful if motorists that will be affected by these closures could find alternative routes. However, those who cannot will be able to follow the diversion routes which will be fully signed.

Councillor Andrew Carter, joint leader and executive board member with responsibility for city development said:
“We apologise for the unavoidable delays that will happen as a result of this essential maintenance, and would like to reassure motorists that the works will be carried out as safely and quickly as possible.”

ENDS
Additional info
West Street tunnel, which was constructed in 1973, and the adjoining retaining walls are now in need of maintenance work which will involve:-

1) Repair of defective concrete, including concrete overlay to the retaining walls, using a sprayed concrete (Gunite) process.

2) Removal of existing carriageway surfacing directly over the tunnel roof and re-waterproofing of the tunnel roof. The road surfacing will then be replaced to the existing road levels.

3) Application of a new protective paint system to the inner walls of the tunnel.

On both the east and westbound carriageways of the Leeds Inner Ring Road, including through the tunnel, two lanes of traffic will be maintained during ‘peak hours’ (5am to 8pm Monday to Saturday). During ‘night time working’ (8pm to 5am) and ‘weekend working’ periods (8pm on Saturday to 5am on Monday), a minimum of two lanes of traffic on the westbound carriageway and one lane of traffic on the eastbound carriageway will be maintained during the course of works.

The works are expected to be completed by mid November.

For media enquiries, please contact;
Claire Macklam, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 395 1578
Email: claire.macklam@leeds.gov.uk