Funding agreed for strengthening work on Leeds Inner Ring Road tunnel

The Department for Transport last night approved more than £16m of funding for the work on Woodhouse Tunnel, which has been deteriorating for decades.

The project is part of a wider £24.96m maintenance scheme of improvements to the A58M Inner Ring Road.

Without the work, the Ring Road might have closed within five years for safety reasons, according to highways bosses.

The Government cash boost is supported by £8.616m provided by Leeds City Council, the West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan Fund, The University of Leeds and Leeds NHS Trust.

Some critical repairs were carried out on the tunnel roof in the summer of 2011, but the remaining essential maintenance works are now required.

The project is expected to last two years, with most of the works being carried out at night from 7pm to 6am Sunday to Thursday, during which times the tunnel will be fully closed.

Leeds City Council’s executive board member for development and the economy, Coun Richard Lewis, said: “With more than 80,000 vehicles travelling through Woodhouse Tunnel every day, it is inevitable that it has suffered wear and tear in the 40 years since it was built and this scheme will mean it can continue to be used in a safe condition.

“We do appreciate there will be some disruption to traffic while the work is carried out but we will be doing everything we can to keep this to a minimum.”

Announcing the new Government funding yesterday, Baroness Kramer said: “This scheme will boost the economy of the city and surrounding area by allowing a vital road to remain open to traffic while a long term solution to local traffic issues is drawn up and delivered.”