Motorists heading into Leeds are being urged to plan their journeys carefully as the city braces for increased traffic during the festive period.
Leeds City Council has warned that multiple ongoing highway improvement schemes will cause disruption during the busiest time of year on city centre roads.
The combination of Christmas shoppers, festive event-goers and essential roadworks is expected to create significant delays across the city's road network.
Several major improvement projects are currently underway, including work at the Armley Gyratory, the Connecting West Leeds project, and improvements to Leeds Station access.
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Leeds will see delays last throughout the Christmas period
GETTYEssential utilities work is also taking place across the city, with gas works along Meanwood Road and other unplanned repairs adding to potential delays.
National Highways is carrying out final stage works on the M621 at junction two, alongside central barrier maintenance on the M1 between junctions 44 and 46.
The Armley Gyratory Wellington footbridge works are also in their final phase, while the Connecting West Leeds project continues on the A6120 between Horsforth and Rodley.
Improvement works are ongoing at Bishopgate Street to enhance Leeds Station access and capacity.
The A660 is undergoing cycle improvements at Headingley, with a new active travel scheme being implemented on Whitehall Road in the city centre.
The council said it hopes to minimisedisruption by reprogramming works to less sensitive times where possible.
However, some projects must be completed now to prevent congestion elsewhere and enable new schemes to commence in the New Year.
Leeds city centre's road network has undergone significant changes in recent years, including the closure of City Square to general traffic and alterations to The Headrow and East Parade. Motorists are advised to familiarise themselves with their routes and allow extra time for journeys during the festive period.
The city offers three Park and Ride sites as alternatives to city centre driving, including the UK's first fully solar-powered facility at Stourton.
These sites provide a cost-effective and stress-free option for both commuters and shoppers, the council detailed. Despite careful planning of roadworks, emergency repairs such as burst water pipes can cause unexpected disruption.
Drivers are encouraged to check their routes before travelling, as temporary changes and urgent repairs may affect journey times.
For cross-city journeys, using the ring road via M621 junctions two and four is often quicker than travelling through the city centre.
Councillor Jonathan Pryor said: "The major improvements we have made in the city centre are putting people first and creating a safer and more welcoming environment for everyone."
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National Highways is carrying out final stage works on the M621 at Junction two
PAHe added: "Motorists can still drive into and around the city centre, but some routes will have changed or in some cases are no longer open to through-traffic.
"The coming months and the festive season always see an increase in traffic on our roads. We try to minimise any works we carry out during this period but sometimes this is unavoidable."
He also encouraged drivers to plan ahead, noting: "We're encouraging motorists driving into the city centre to plan their journeys in advance and allow extra time to help avoid getting caught in any congestion."
For those needing to drive into Leeds city centre, the council recommends using the ring road rather than attempting to navigate through-traffic routes.
