Leeds Bradford: Airport Road, Rail & Access Issues

[Pat]

When the motorway was cancelled they had already built the large expensive roundabout at the Rooley Lane end of the M606 which became a white elephant for years

 

[LsS27]

Yes, that was for the final bit of the M606 (or as it was originally the A638(M) It was going to take an alignment to join Manchester Rod at some point.

 

[leedslad]

Still believe a dual carriageway along roughly the red line below would be transformational for both airport access but also the North of Leeds.

Imagine how much quicker access to the M62 and M1 would be from North Leeds along that route!

 

[White Heather]

Were we as forward thinking and determined on this side of the Pennines as they are on the other side, and had we been given the support from Government that they have had on the other side, then the M621 would have become the Leeds Outer Ring road by now and would go right around the city, as does the M60 around Greater Manchester. It beggars belief that a city that is geographically as large as Leeds is, and in terms of population is the 3rd largest in the UK, that we are still having to manage with a Ring Road that for much of its length is single carriageway and to the North of the City, runs at least 5 miles inside the city's outer boundary - and at least 3 miles (geographically) from the biggest airport in Yorkshire, with no direct road link from it.

 

[Aviador]

Still believe a dual carriageway along roughly the red line below would be transformational for both airport access but also the North of Leeds.

Imagine how much quicker access to the M62 and M1 would be from North Leeds along that route!

Totally agree with you. That route would be like a completion to the Leeds Ring Road

On the bright side, the East Leeds Orbital road moved a step closer as I believe the council approved the spending although I understand they will need to appoint a new contractor as Carillon was the preferred option for part of the construction. Once completed this will have a positive impact on airport bound traffic arriving from York and the East and even an alternative for traffic arriving from the South via the M1 and M62.

 

[LBA787]

The new east leeds orbital road should have grade separated junctions, apart from that it’s a welcome addition albeit a half arsed effort...

Manchester M60

Leeds should have the same!

 

[LBA787]

Still believe a dual carriageway along roughly the red line below would be transformational for both airport access but also the North of Leeds.

Imagine how much quicker access to the M62 and M1 would be from North Leeds along that route!

I couldn’t agree more!

 

[Aviador]

Leeds No.1 SSC

I Quite like this route somebody posted on another forum. The route connects with the Leeds Ring Road, the M62 and to the M66. Assuming the blue colour is indicating motorway standard Burnley would be within 30 minutes drive from LBA. Can't see it happening though.

 

[Bigman]

Anything that takes traffic off of Horsforth roundabout is good in my book!! The blue line would also go right by the proposed LBA Parkway station by the looks of it.

 

[leedslad]

What's the next milestone /timeline for the proposed airport link road?

 

[Bigman]

I note from the BBC website that the 10 most congested roads at peak time in the country have been listed. The A658 Harrogate Road comes in at 8th!!! Surprised Horsforth roundabout isn't on the list.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

I note from the BBC website that the 10 most congested roads at peak time in the country have been listed. The A658 Harrogate Road comes in at 8th!!! Surprised Horsforth roundabout isn't on the list.

As someone who lives within a cricket ball throw of this road in Yeadon, making the top ten does not surprise me.
Certainly within a decade I am fairly sure we will see traffic barred from turning off the A658 on to Whitehouse Lane.
The creation of the new link road to the parkway station will open up many different options which were not in the recent Master Plan of the airport.
Whilst we could not do anything about the new car parks being undertaken just off the A658, locals will not tolerate any further options that allow additional airport access, without seeking to ensure that when the new link road built, every step taken to reduce the air pollution, especially when you have so many schools very close.
The air quality readings at Rawdon Littlemoor and Benton Park schools, make this A65/A658 intersection very concerning, far higher then further down the A65 at kirkstall.
For me locals have in the past been far to worried about noise and pollution from the airport, but are now waking up to the fact that the major concern is the air quality caused by traffic on the A658 and to a lesser extent, the A65.
Unfortunately until we have the route of the new link road, we cant discuss with councillors action that needs to be taken over the next decade, certainly talking to my neighbours, once we know the route, we can put pressure on ensuring access to the airport and all airport car parks are off this route and not the A658 and Sentinal etc are relocated to ensure their traffic removed from the A658.
Local studies have shown that if we remove airport traffic and divert north/south/east traffic we could reduce traffic by over 50%

 

[Bigman]

Amen to that!!! It takes ages to cross the main local roads as late as 8 pm on a night!!

 

[lbaspotter]

But taking the Leeds bound traffic of the A658 onto the new A65/A568 link road is not going to stop the traffic problems at either Rawdon or Yeadon is it?
I agree it may help relive if it a little. but you'll still have any airport traffic heading for Bradford and the M606 along with all the local traffic using it between Harrogate-Pool-Airport-Yeadon-Rawdon-Greengates-Bradford.
I actually think the section of A658 between Rawdon and Greengates is worse at peak times due to that School in bottom of Valley at Apley Bridge.

I can also see the new Airport Link Road creating a major bottle neck between where it meets up with the A65 and as pointed out by "BigMan" at the Horsforth Ring-Road roundabout. They are going to have remodel whole area to keep the current current traffic flow moving never mind extra millions more been rerouted if under your plan they close the tunnels and through route.

 

[SNOWMAN]

hi lbaspotter
hope you had good trip,how many on the BA flight back home.
regards
snowman

 

[lbaspotter]

hi lbaspotter
hope you had good trip,how many on the BA flight back home.
regards
snowman

Up front was full. Then counted about 5 empty seats in total. I ended up down back on row 23 ilse seat D.

Flight time was about 40 mins as landed 18 mins early using Airbus A319, G-EUPP

 

[Tarn Spotter]

But taking the Leeds bound traffic of the A658 onto the new A65/A568 link road is not going to stop the traffic problems at either Rawdon or Yeadon is it?
I agree it may help relive if it a little. but you'll still have any airport traffic heading for Bradford and the M606 along with all the local traffic using it between Harrogate-Pool-Airport-Yeadon-Rawdon-Greengates-Bradford.

All traffic from Pool Bank will be directed along the new link road, avoiding Yeadon and the airport. Once you stop traffic turning off the A658 on to Whitehouse lane (from either direction) and have signage directing north south traffic via the new link road, put in a 7.5 ton loading restriction etc, you will soon cut down the traffic.
Certainly from traffic census in the area, 75% of traffic moving though the area or going to the airport, only 25% on local runs.
Bradford traffic would link up with the ring road at Horsforth and then via Dick Lane or other routes, traffic from Bradford for the north for Harrogate etc would follow the reverse.
Sentinal will really have to move or accept a much longer route to the airport as maybe the same situation with the new car parks under construction.
This will also relieve the congestion through Greengates as you have redirected a huge volume of this traffic.
Don't forget the Parkway station will attract a lot of commutors, they will access the car parks by the link road.

 

[rmac]

Why stop up the Whitehouse Lane junction from the A658? Surely traffic from Guiseley/Ilkley/ Shipley etc will be disadvantaged. The A658 will be quieter anyway as a percentage of the traffic will be using the new link road.

 

[lbaspotter]

Bradford traffic would link up with the ring road at Horsforth and then via Dick Lane or other routes, traffic from Bradford for the north for Harrogate etc would follow the reverse.

So to relive traffic at Rawdon and Yeadon your okay with the fact that Horsforth would be worse off traffic wise Tarn Spotter? It might be okay for some, but I bet to differ as others in West Leeds or Bradford area's would agree to that plan!

The A6120 (Leeds outer ring road) section between A65 (Horsforth) and A647 (Stanningley) is already a congestion hot spot at peak times as it reached its capacity several years ago. Going with your plan sending all the Airport/Harrogate to Bradford/M606/Shipley/Iikley traffic this way around using the new airport link road would actually make it 10x worse, that is a situation which wont be acceptable to anyone..

To make your plan work Tarn Spotter, major infrastructure investment would be required as follows.

1/ A6120 (Leeds outer ring-road) upgrade to dual carriageway between A65 (Horsforth) & A647 (Stanningley).
2/ Installation of 3 brand new bridges taking the A6120 taking it over the Leeds-Skipton Rail line, River Aire and Leeds-Liverpool Canal at Rodley bottom
3/ A6120 (Leeds outer ring-road) changes to the 3 junctions where it meets the A65 (Horsforth), A657 (Rodley) & A647 (Stanningley).
4/ A65 would need to be upgraded to dual carriageway between the new airport link road junction and the A6120 (Leeds outer ring road) junction at Horsforth..

But the real question is! Who would be paying for all that?

 

[lbaspotter]

Why stop up the Whitehouse Lane junction from the A658? Surely traffic from Guiseley/Ilkley/ Shipley etc will be disadvantaged. The A658 will be quieter anyway as a percentage of the traffic will be using the new link road.

Agreed "rmac", I was thinking same when I posted me last message regards me thinking of Bradford