New-look Leeds Bridge to finally reopen after months of work

Work is set to be completed on an 18 month restoration of city landmark Leeds Bridge.
Your new look Leeds Bridge.Your new look Leeds Bridge.
Your new look Leeds Bridge.

Leeds Bridge, built in 1873, required essential maintenance works to strengthen the structure to allow buses to continue to use the route into and out of the city centre.

Included in the works were the cleaning and repainting of existing paintwork on the parapets and structure in order to restore it to its former glory and also protect the ironwork from deteriorating.

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Local businesses, representatives fromLeeds Civic Trust and Coun Lisa Mulherin marked the completion of works.Local businesses, representatives fromLeeds Civic Trust and Coun Lisa Mulherin marked the completion of works.
Local businesses, representatives fromLeeds Civic Trust and Coun Lisa Mulherin marked the completion of works.
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The film, entitled 'Traffic Crossing Leeds Bridge', was taken from Hicks the Ironmongers, now above Morgan's Lettings, in October 1888.

LOVE LEEDS, LOVE RETRO? Join 'Leeds Retro' on facebookThe eighteen-month project, led by Leeds City Council's bridges team, with assistance from engineering partners WSP, the Canal & River Trust and the Environment Agency, has allowed the Grade-II listed bridge to continue to be a crucial route for public transport into the city.

Traffic restrictions in place during construction works were lifted in December 2018 with the bridge finally coming to completion this month.

Local businesses, representatives from Leeds Civic Trust and Executive Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainable Development, Councillor Lisa Mulherin marked the completion of works with a trip on the River Aire to marvel at the restoration

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Contractors A E Yates Ltd started work on site in January 2018 with the latter stages of work focusing on repainting the structure, including hand-painting 5,200 individual rosette details.

Coun Lisa Mulherin, Leeds City Council's executive member for climate change, transport and sustainable development, thanked local businesses and the public for their patience over the duration of these works.

"The maintenance, repair and strengthening to Leeds Bridge was essential in order to allow the structure to continue to play a key role in Leeds' travel network, said Coun Mulherin. "The standard of repainting work and respect shown to the historic significance of this beautiful bridge have given it a new lease of life whilst also preserving it for many years to come."