Drivers warned over major road closures in Leeds centre

Leeds Council says urgent repairs are needed to Woodhouse Tunnel, which runs underneath Leeds University and Leeds General Infirmary. The work will involve replacing 800 square metres of defective concrete on the tunnel roof which has deteriorated because of salt used in road grit.

The repairs will take place over 14 weekends beginning on Friday 24th June. One lane of the tunnel will be closed in each direction from 8pm each Friday until 5am Monday.

There will be a contraflow through the tunnels at these times and diversions will be signposted on newly-installed traffic update screens on approaches to the city centre.

Coun Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council executive member responsible for highways maintenance, said: “This is essential maintenance work which cannot be delayed. We understand that it will cause traffic disruption and have done everything possible to minimise this and give people advance notice so they can prepare.

“This is the first time we have done this scale of work on this part of the road network since the early 1990s and we want to ensure that all who rely on this section of road are aware in good time of the scheduled closures and able to plan ahead.”

The work to Woodhouse Tunnel is part of a wider repair plan for the whole of the Leeds inner ring-road for which the council is currently bidding for Government funding.

Built in the 1960s and 1970s, the ring-road carries on average 75,000 vehicles every day.