Lawnswood roundabout works start with aim to improve safety for all road users

Construction work to improve safety starts from 11 August to deliver improvements at the Lawnswood roundabout junction of the A6120 Outer Ring Road and A660 Otley Road, in north Leeds.

Road users are being urged to prepare as significant construction work begins this month to make improvements at Lawnswood roundabout, one of the busiest junctions in north Leeds, with almost 50,000 vehicles passing through it each day. The scheme forms part of the Connecting Leeds strategy to maintain and improve Leeds’ Inner and Outer Ring Roads and is expected to take around 12 months to complete.

The A660 corridor has high volumes of cyclists, pedestrians and bus users. The junction lacks adequate crossing facilities and is a major barrier for walking and cycling, especially given the proximity to Lawnswood school.

Between 2020 and 2024, the junction suffers from a poor safety record with 25 recorded injuries at the roundabout, including six serious injuries.

As part of the council’s Vision Zero ambition to eliminate all traffic-related deaths and serious injuries by 2040, this scheme is a key step in improving safety for everyone using the junction - whether they walk, wheel, cycle, drive or take the bus.

The plans include introducing these changes at Lawnswood roundabout and the surrounding area:

• Making it a signalised roundabout.
• Signalised pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities at the roundabout.
• Segregated cycle facilities on the approaches to the roundabout.
• New signalised pedestrian crossing of A660 Otley Road, just north of Weetwood Road.
• A slight extension to the existing southbound bus lane on Otley Road.
• Reduced speed limits from 70mph on A6120 Ring Road, between King Lane and Lawnswood roundabout, as follows:
  • 40 mph between Lawnswood roundabout and Leeds University sports facilities access.
  • 50 mph between Leeds University sports facilities access and Tongue Lane.
  • 40 mph east of Tongue Lane.

• New waiting and loading restrictions within the vicinity of the roundabout.

The council works hard to prioritise, plan and co-ordinate complex schemes to ensure as least disruption as possible across our busy city. To help minimise disruption, part of the works are planned during the school summer holidays to take advantage of reduced traffic levels.

The council aims to improve safety for drivers and all road users and improve facilities for walking, wheeling and cycling across the Lawnswood junction. The plans also want to make bus services quicker and more reliable on Otley Road.

The congested conditions experienced on much of the A660 corridor means there needs to be attractive alternatives to private car use, as modal shift towards public transport, walking and cycling will help to make more efficient use of road space. Making bus journeys more reliable along this route will offer people better choices for their journeys.

The improvement scheme will be funded predominantly by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement and the West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund Corridor Improvement Programme Phase 2, with a small amount of Section 106 Developer Contributions. No Leeds City Council budget will be used.

The council will work closely with construction partner Eric Wright Group, who will be engaging with affected properties near to the works.

Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, said:

“Having a junction with poor safety record right next to a school is essential to fix, so I am delighted to see the works starting this month.

“It’s vitally important we address the safety of drivers and all road users, all as part of our Vision Zero strategy to work towards eliminating all traffic fatalities and severe injuries. The A660 corridor also has high volumes of cyclists, pedestrians and bus users, but the junction lacks proper crossing facilities and is a major barrier for walking and cycling, especially close to Lawnswood School.

“We will keep residents regularly updated as the works progress and have set up a website https://lawnswoodroundabout.commonplace.is/ with information about the project, along with plans and timescales. Local residents and businesses have been sent a letter to help them learn more about how the construction will impact them.”

Cllr Peter Carlill, Deputy Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee, said:

 “These works are about making our roads safer for everyone – whether you’re walking, cycling, driving, or using public transport.

“By improving crossings, reducing vehicle speeds, and introducing cycle lanes, we’re helping ensure Lawnswood junction is a place where everyone can travel easily and safely.

“It’s an important step towards a greener, more accessible, and better-connected region.”

Gavin Hulme, Managing Director of Eric Wright Civil Engineering said:

“Eric Wright Civil Engineering are pleased to be delivering this scheme on behalf of Leeds City Council.

"We will endeavour to minimise disruption by working closely with local businesses and residents and have a dedicated site email address LawnswoodEnquiries@ericwright.co.uk to assist communication with stakeholders."