Leeds City Square works: Motorists warned as fresh lane closures and route changes due this week

As part of Leeds City Council plans to make City Square people-first by removing general through-traffic away from the area, King Street and Thirsk Row are set to become two-way.

This next phase will facilitate works to the area in front of the Queens Hotel. There will also no longer be vehicle access to Wellington Street. Buses and taxis will need to travel via Infirmary Street and Kings Street to access Wellington Street.

From 6am Sunday (January 8) the following city centre road layout changes will occur:

The current one-way direction of travel running from Thirsk Row via Wellington Street and King Street (up to Infirmary Street) will no longer be in place. King Street and Thirsk Row will become two-way. Thirsk Row will become two-way for all traffic. King Street will have a new southbound 24-hour bus gate.

These changes will also impact over a dozen Leeds bus services.

Coun Helen Hayden, council’s executive member for infrastructure and climate, said: “I know that no one likes road works and that they cause disruption, but they are necessary to improve our road network and keep Leeds moving.

"We’re working as fast as we can to make these improvements and I want to thank everyone in advance for their patience. We have done work to try and minimise the disruption these works will have, but no matter the amount of planning there will be some congestion.”

Drivers are being advised to make use of the city’s Park and Ride services at Stourton, Elland Road and Temple Green to avoid being caught in congested traffic.

City motorists were previously issued a warning over City Square changes after 13,000 drivers received warnings in October (the first month of restrictions) for wrongly entering the areas bus gate.

From tomorrow (January 4), a series of lane and road closures will take place, along Thirsk Row, Wellington Street, Quebec Street and King Street with council that there will be further closures during the final 24-hours prior to the switchover.

Final re-surfacing works are planned for the spring/summer of 2023.