Leeds City Council in the UK has announced the commencement of works on the A660 transport improvement project.
The project intends to minimise the number of casualties along the route while offering safer, other transport alternatives for residents.
Furthermore, the scope of this project consists of widening sidewalks; adding benches for seating; installing continuous crossings at side junctions to provide pedestrians and cyclists preference; and creating 2m-wide segregated cycle paths on both the inbound and outbound sides.
It also includes improving bus stops and shelters, closing St Michael’s Road and Regent Park Avenue to motorised traffic to prevent rat-running; adding six more pedestrian crossings, and more.
The £10.4m project, financed by Active Travel England, will be built in phases to minimise inconvenience.
Construction work is already underway between the Spring Bank Crescent and Richmond Road intersections near the Golden Beam pub.
The A660 is said to be one of Leeds’ busiest cycling routes, with more than 1,000 cyclists using it every day. The cycling route will be built in conjunction with the completed Shaw Lane junction upgrade work, which includes a new, completely separated cycle path.
The motorway improvements are expected to be completed in early 2025.
Leeds City Council sustainable development and infrastructure executive member councillor Helen Hayden said: “I’m pleased to see construction is already underway after positive public feedback at [the] consultation at the start of this year.
“This busy route suffers from a high casualty rate with 172 casualties happening along this road during 2016-2021.
“These works, once delivered, will improve safety for all road users, aiming to meet our Vision Zero Strategy goal of eliminating road deaths and serious injury on Leeds’ roads by 2040.
“Along with the recently completed Shaw Lane junction improvements, the works will provide more travel options for residents, helping towards tackling climate change and improving people’s health and well-being.”
