Congestion-busting measures proposed for busy city route

Ambitious improvements have been proposed for the A6110 Outer Ring Road between the White Rose Shopping Centre, A643 Elland Road and A58 Whitehall Road.

These include changes to cut congestion and make it safer for people to walk and cycle. They will also make bus services quicker and more reliable to provide a more attractive alternative to the private vehicle.

Enhancements are expected to be delivered in four phases taking a junction-by-junction approach. Phase one of the scheme will be at the A643/A6110 junction which is proposed to be delivered by 2024. Remaining phases will be delivered when funding becomes available.

The A6110 outer ring road is the main arterial route connecting south Leeds and the city centre which extends from A647 Stanningley bypass to the north and White Rose Shopping Centre to the south.

It is intersected by several key radial routes including the A58 Whitehall Road, A643 Elland Road, A653 Dewsbury Road and provides a connection to the M621 and wider motorway network.

The A6110 is also a key route for several express buses, many of which serve the White Rose bus station.

Therefore the addition of dedicated bus priority lanes along the corridor is a key element of the proposed improvements of the A6110 outer ring road scheme.

A consultation has now opened into the plans to improve the route. People can find out more and leave their views here until 5 December.

Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate change, transport and sustainable development, said: “Now, more than ever, it’s important we reduce our collective carbon emissions.

“In Leeds, part of our commitment to this is an ambition to be a city where you don’t need a car.

“That means making public transport easier to use and promoting decarbonised travel. We know people are willing to make small gradual changes from switching to electric vehicles to making more use of public transport and reducing their reliance on private cars.

“Our commitment is to be a net zero city by 2030 and infrastructure improvement schemes like this one will help our goal, to give people real travel choices by making bus services quicker and more reliable, whilst also making local journeys on foot and by bike safer, more convenient and attractive.”

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “I’m committed to doing everything within my power to tackle the climate and environment emergency – and one of the key ways we will achieve a net zero carbon economy in our region is by offering people viable alternatives to using their cars.

“This improvement scheme will make it much easier and safer for people to walk and cycle as well as improving the reliability of buses with the introduction of priority bus lanes.”

Cllr Kim Groves, West Yorkshire Transport Committee Lead Member for Public Transport, added: “People living and working along the A6110 outer ring road are well aware of the issues caused by congestion and poor air quality.

“This scheme will not only tackle those issues head on, it will also make travelling by bus more attractive.

“We know reliability can often be a barrier to people using the bus but by providing priority bus lanes, we will be able to make a real difference to journey times.”