Thousands of motorists use the Leeds Inner Ring Road everyday to get across the city. Yet few will be aware of the untold story of how the project was hindered by delays, controversy and everything in between. It was devised in the 1950s, started in 1964 and yet only completed in the 2000s. These photos, plucked from the YEP archive, aim to bring that story to life. READ MORE: Fascinating photos of Leeds city centre during the 1960s LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook
7. October 1964
Technical and engineering innovation has been the hallmark of the project as demonstrated by stage one, 3,600ft stretch from Westgate roundabout to Claypit Lane which it was agreed should be built in a cutting and a tunnel.
8. October 1964
A coal seam up to 10ft thick in places was discovered during excavations. It was dug out separately and 2,000 tons delivered to the National Coal Board.
9. January 1967
Tthe first stage was complete and an estimated 10,000 people took the opportunity to walk along the route and take photographs before it was officially opened.
10. August 1969
A view - from Buslingthorpe Lane - of St. Clement's Church at Sheepscar with debris from the Leeds Inner Ring Road workings in the foreground.
11. December 1969
Work on stage two - then the biggest civic engineering project to take place in the city - was soon underway, extending the route from the Claypit Lane area through to York Road, crossing the Eastgate-Regent Street by flyover.
12. May 1970
It opened ahead of schedule and the reason given for the early completion was "because the construction programming has been done by computer."