Back in business! Flood-damaged road bridge in Leeds is ready for reopening

Linton Bridge, which stands on the River Wharfe and connects the communities of Linton and Collingham near Wetherby, has been closed since becoming one of the highest-profile casualties of Storm Eva.

Now, though, Leeds City Council has announced that the bridge will be open to road users once again from Saturday, September 2.

The move follows a Department for Transport-funded £5.1m repair programme carried out by the council with Historic England and the Environment Agency.

Council leader Coun Judith Blake said: “Announcing the date for reopening Linton Bridge is fantastic news and is the culmination of an incredible effort by everyone to successfully carry out a repair project as challenging and demanding as any we have undertaken in Leeds.

“We would like to thank everyone involved or who has supported the project, the council officers, Department for Transport, the Environment Agency, Historic England and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

“We would especially like to thank the residents of Linton and Collingham for their patience and understanding, and it is great that these two communities will shortly be fully connected once again.”

Built in the 19th century, the Grade II listed bridge suffered major damage to its foundations in the floods.

A West Yorkshire Combined Authority-supported shuttle bus service has been operating during its closure.

Council bosses are finalising plans for a public event to mark the bridge’s reopening.

The flooding of 2015 was the worst to strike West Yorkshire for 70 years, with hundreds of homes and businesses being caught up in the chaos in Leeds alone.