A660: Next stage of improvements to begin from Monday 2 June

Starting from Monday 2 June, works will begin to deliver a segregated inbound and outbound cycle track on both sides of the road, change pedestrian crossings outside the Arndale Centre and The Original Oak to toucan crossings, along with a major upgrade of both  the junctions of Hyde Park Corner and North Lane.

Other improvements include introducing a 20mph speed limit between Shaw Lane and St. Michael's Road, wider pavements and continuous crossings at most junctions, upgrading bus stops and shelters, and providing better access to public transport outside the Arndale Centre.

From Monday 16 June, the junction of St. Michael’s Road and the A660 will be permanently closed to motor vehicles, with the area being transformed into a public space following a public consultation which saw 57% of responses backing this particular proposal.

The junction of the A660 with Regent Park Avenue will also be closed to motor vehicles from 30 July, and the existing left turn road closure from Woodhouse Street to A660 Woodhouse Lane will also be made permanent, with greenery and space for outdoor dining.

The improvements are funded by a £10.4m grant from Active Travel England, with this phase of work being delivered by construction partners Hinko Construction.

The works aim to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists along a route which saw 172 casualties between 2016 and 2021, encouraging people to choose more active and sustainable methods of travel which can boost health and wellbeing and help tackle climate change. They follow previous phases which were completed earlier this year, with 63% of respondents supporting the overall proposals during public consultation.

Deputy Leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, Councillor Jonathan Pryor, said:

“The A660 is one of our city's busiest routes with thousands of people walking between north Leeds and the city centre every day, along with more than 1,000 cyclists daily and a high number of cars and buses.

“It’s important that we make these improvements so it’s safer for everyone using it, helping to meet our Vision Zero strategy goal of eliminating road deaths and serious injuries on Leeds’ roads by 2040.

“As with any scheme of this nature there is likely to be some disruption during construction, but we will work to keep this to a minimum, so we are encouraging people to plan ahead when travelling along this route.”

The works are expected to be completed by summer 2026, with several measures being put in place to minimise disruption wherever possible.

The majority of works will be carried out between 9.30am and 3.30pm on weekdays. In some instances, to ensure safety lanes will be narrowed where traffic will continue to flow in both directions.

In some instances, temporary traffic lights will be required which will take the road down to a single lane, and there will also be some temporary road closures in place. This is likely to lead to delays.

Bus routes will not be affected but there will be some temporary bus stops in place.

More details about the works can be found at the scheme’s dedicated website.