A £31 million project is now underway to upgrade the Regent Street flyover in Leeds city centre, with the scheme set to have a major impact on traffic for up to two years.
The bridge carries the A64(M) Leeds Inner Ring Road over the A61 Regent Street and an estimated 70,000 vehicles a day pass over and under the structure.
However, construction teams have started to demolish the bridge, which is deteriorating after decades of damage.
As a result, a number of road closures are going to be in place, with disruption expected to last until 2022.
With traffic likely to build up for years to come, we've outlined all the main information that could affect you, including planned road closures, why it is all happening and what it will look like once it is finished.
What is happening
The Regent Street flyover is in desperate need of replacing because the standards used to build it in the 1960's were not up to today's standards.
The reinforced concrete has been deteriorating for years due to damage from road salt and poor construction, and critical load-bearing parts of the bridge that hold up the Inner Ring Road above urgently needed replacing.
Work actually started in mid-May, but cranes have only recently arrived on site to begin the main bulk of the work.
The pictures above show how giant sections have been cut away and removed, to be replaced with a brand new bridge, which will be made from a mix steel and concrete (see below).
Some details - including the intricacies of the exact road layout - are still being finalised, but the areas around Regent Street are being completed in conjunction with other big transport schemes across Leeds, such as The Headrow and the Corn Exchange alterations.
Road closures
The works are being phased to minimise disruption as much as possible.
The A61 will remain open throughout most of the project, although the the A64(M) will be reduced to 50 per cent capacity from June 2020 onwards.
A contraflow will be in operation to maintain traffic on the A64(M), which means that half of the dual carriageway will be closed and traffic will be funnelled into just one lane in each direction.
This is expected to last for the rest of the scheme all the way through to spring 2022, so expect delays.
The New York Road tunnel and St Mary’s Street will be closed for the duration of the works.
There will also be a number of weekend closures where the A64(M) Inner Ring Road and A61 Regent Street will be be shut completely. This will happen on the following weekends:
8pm on Friday, July 10 to 5.30am on Monday, July 13
8pm on Friday, July 17 to 5.30am on Monday, July 20
8pm on Friday, July 24 to 5.30am on Monday, July 27
Several more weekend closures are expecting over the coming two years, but these are yet to be announced.
For all road closures during the project, diversions will be signed for drivers and more information can be found here.
