Armley Gyratory Frequently Asked Questions Connecting Leeds and West Yorkshire Combined Authority have been working in partnership to develop proposals to improve Armley Gyratory, a busy roundabout to the west of Leeds city centre. This document aims to answer some frequently asked questions about the proposals, to provide further insight into the design and consultation process. If you have any further questions that are not covered in this document, please contact us at [email protected]. The scheme 1. What is the Armley Gyratory? Armley Gyratory is an extremely busy signalised roundabout to the west of Leeds city centre. It acts as a major entry/ exit point for traffic as a key junction on the A58 (M) Leeds Inner Ring Road. 2. What is Connecting Leeds? Connecting Leeds is part of Leeds City Council and aims to transform travel in Leeds for those that live, work and study in or visit the city. Connecting Leeds is delivering a range of city-wide transport improvements, aiming to support the development, growth and success of the city of Leeds. Leeds City Council has produced a draft Connecting Leeds Transport Strategy, which sets out the council’s vision for a city where you don’t need a car, where everyone has an affordable zero carbon choice in how they travel. This will help to deliver an integrated transport network within a city that is well-connected, healthy and ambitious. The improvements to Armley Gyratory are a key component of the Connecting Leeds ambition. 3. How is the Armley Gyratory improvements scheme linked to other transport projects being undertaken by Leeds City Council? Armley Gyratory is funded by the West Yorkshire- plus Transport Fund City Centre Package. This Package is funding a range of schemes within the centre of Leeds to facilitate city-wide transport improvements. Armley Gyratory is an important component of the Package, and will enable the delivery of other projects to improve the city’s public realm and events spaces, as well as public transport and active travel schemes in the city centre, including at City Square, in line with the council’s health, climate and inclusive growth goals. 4. What are the aims of the scheme? The aims of the scheme are to: provide pedestrians and cyclists with more appealing and accessible routes around the gyratory; increase safety for all road users; improve the operation of the junction, allowing traffic to flow more freely, which will minimise traffic impacts on local roads; improve the local environment through new landscaping; and facilitate improvements elsewhere in the city, including at City Square, by creating capacity for traffic displaced from those locations. The design 5. Why are the improvements to Armley Gyratory necessary? The improvements are necessary to allow traffic to flow more freely at the gyratory, as the junction currently experiences large queues of traffic at peak times, causing delays for motorists and bus users. They will also address concerns raised through previous public consultation, which has highlighted concerns about the safety of the junction. The current pedestrian and cycle facilities at Armley Gyratory are substandard and inaccessible to some users, reducing the likelihood of local residents travelling into the centre by foot or bike. The scheme will improve the ease and safety of travel for pedestrians and cyclists, promoting sustainable transport choices. In addition, they will enable other city-wide improvement schemes, by creating capacity for traffic displaced from other locations. 6. Why has the design changed? Since the previous rounds of consultation, the design has been updated. The changes have been made following a review of forecasted growth and changes in journey patterns; a review of the impact of other schemes planned in the city centre and across the wider Leeds network; and as a result of changes in the funding available for the scheme. Although the design has changed, the proposals still take on board previous feedback, and aim to retain and enhance some of the key features that were most supported in previous consultation. This includes new landscaping, new and improved traffic lights, and improvements to pedestrian and cycle routes and crossings. Feedback has also been responded to by including improvements to safety and upgraded and enhanced connections to pedestrian and cycling links in the new design, which will also allow traffic to flow more freely Ground investigations have also been undertaken since previous rounds of consultation and have informed the updated design. 7. How has the design changed? The main design changes include the removal of the cut-through road and pedestrian/cycle route across the central island. This route has been replaced with localised widening on the existing circulatory carriageway and upgrades to the pedestrian facilities on the eastern side of the gyratory. The new proposed layout means a slightly quicker route for cyclists travelling between the city centre and New Wortley relative to the previous layout, since there are fewer signal-controlled crossings to use. Although it is slightly slower for pedestrians when the ramps are used than the previous layout, those that are able to use stairs will benefit from similar journey times relative to the previous layout. Additionally, due to the reduced impact on the central island, the new design will preserve more trees than the previous iteration. 8. What assessments have been undertaken to inform the design? A Transport Assessment has been carried out and will be submitted alongside the planning application. This provided baseline data on current traffic flows through the junction and analysed how this would change as a result of the proposals. Traffic counts were undertaken and signalling and collision data was reviewed to help inform the design proposals. The proposals were modelled using traffic data from Leeds City Council’s Strategic Transport model and City Centre AIMSUN model (a traffic-simulator software used to model urban transport networks). Ground investigations have also been undertaken since previous rounds of consultation and have informed the updated design. Noise and Air Quality Assessments will also be completed to support the planning process. 9. How much will the scheme cost? The scheme will cost £40.5 million, funded by the West Yorkshire- plus Transport Fund City Centre Package. Benefits of the scheme 10. What benefits will there be for local residents? Local residents will benefit from the improvements to junction safety, operation and ease of travel. For example, improvements to the gyratory will promote the use of more strategic routes and lessen the impacts of traffic on local roads. The scheme will improve the pedestrian and cycle facilities at the junction to encourage the wider use of active transport into and around the city centre. New landscaping will create green pedestrian links while providing increased visibility between different road users, helping enhance the personal security of pedestrians and cyclists and minimise antisocial behaviour. In addition, the proposed drainage system will look to address the issues of flooding at A58 Wellington Road North under the railway bridge. 11. How will the updated design impact traffic flow at the junction? The scheme will allow traffic to flow more freely, with improved signalling (e.g. new traffic lights at the junction with Gelderd Road and at the entrance from A643 Ingram Road Distributor) and altered timings of the traffic lights. Widening and realignment of the existing carriageway will also increase the junction’s capacity, helping to create capacity for traffic displaced from elsewhere in the city. 12. How does the design improve the safety of the junction for motorists? A key aspect of the improvements is the introduction of traffic lights at the junction with Gelderd Road, and a new signal-controlled junction on the entrance from Wellington RoaZ. These new lights will make it easier and safer to enter the gyratory (the current approach is a give-way junction). In addition, the timings of the lights at the gyratory will be amended, aiming to discourage drivers from running red lights. 13. How does the design improve the safety of the junction for pedestrians and cyclists? A signal-controlled pedestrian and cycle crossing across B6159 Wellington Road will be introduced to provide a safe, continuous and accessible route for pedestrians and cyclists around the gyratory. Cycling routes will be connected to existing routes, making it safer and easier to navigate the junction, and landscaping will increase the visibility of pedestrians and cyclists to other road users, improving their personal security whilst travelling. Post-construction monitoring to assess road safety at the junction will also be undertaken. 14. How will cycling and walking routes at the gyratory be improved? Existing pedestrian routes will be upgraded to modern standards and made safer, more pleasant and more accessible with new landscaping and footpath widening. New cycle routes will be introduced and connected to existing routes, making them easier and safer to travel by bicycle. The new proposed layout means there is a slightly quicker route for cyclists travelling between the city centre and New Wortley relative to the previous layout, since there are fewer signal-controlled crossings to use. Additionally, existing footbridges over the A643 and A58 will be replaced with dedicated, accessible pedestrian and cycle bridges. This will improve accessibility and safely accommodate both pedestrians and cyclists by using shallower ramp gradients. Environment 15. How will the improvements scheme meet wider sustainability goals? Improvements to pedestrian and cycling facilities at the junction will help to achieve Connecting Leeds’ wider vision of establishing an active and green city, with further opportunities for active transport. Improvements to pedestrian and cycling links around the junction will encourage local communities to travel to the centre via foot or bike and will therefore help to meet the council’s sustainable transport goals.