Drivers warned over roundabout roadworks closures

Drivers in Leeds are being warned that one of the city's busiest roundabouts is to be closed in stages for up to four weeks as part a major improvement scheme.

Work on Lawnswood Roundabout, in the north of the city, has been ongoing since August last year and the final phase of the scheme is now under way.

The work will mainly consist of road resurfacing, meaning there will be a programme of full day and overnight road closures around the junction from 3 August until 7 September, according to Leeds City Council.

A council spokesperson said: "The final scheme will provide long-term safety benefits for people walking, wheeling, cycling, using public transport and driving through the junction."

Lawnswood Roundabout is located on the junction of the A6120 Outer Ring Road and A660 Otley Road.

About 50,000 vehicles pass through the roundabout every day, but Leeds City Council said the junction lacked adequate crossing facilities and was a major barrier for walking and cycling, especially given its proximity to nearby Lawnswood School.

The local authority also said that between 2020-24, there were 25 recorded injuries at the site, six of which were serious, so improving its safety was "vitally important".

The improvement scheme began in August 2025 and will include traffic lights, pedestrian crossings and segregated cycle lanes.

The existing southbound bus lane on Otley Road will also be extended and the speed limit on the A6120 Ring Road, between King Lane and the roundabout, will be reduced from 70mph (112km/h) to stretches of 40 mph (64 km/h) and 50mph (80km/h).

However, the improvements have meant major roadworks, construction and traffic disruption which has been ongoing for nearly 12 months.

The road resurfacing is planned for all four approaches to the roundabout and will take place over various dates.

• From 3 August: Overnight road closures with signed diversion in place between 19:00 and 06:00, Monday to Friday, for up to four weeks, in phases.
• Between 1 to 5 September: Full nighttime closures between 19:00 and 06:00
• Between 5 to 7 September: Full day and night closures between 19:00 and 06:00

Leeds City Council said the changes to Lawnswood Roundabout would be "substantially complete" in September.

A number of residents have told the BBC they did not think the improvements were neccessary.

Adrees Nazir, who lives off the roundabout, said: "What was simply needed were some pelican crossings.

"It's a complete waste of money. The fact that they've put some temporary crossings in anyway - and people are using them - shows it could've been done that way."

Meanwhile, a local business owner told the BBC she did not think enough cyclists used the roundabout to justify all the disruption.

The owner of West Park Café, Jane McManus, said: "I'm not entirely sure what they're doing to be honest.

"If it's all about pedestrians and cyclists, I don't think they've done the right thing."

However, she added that the noise from the roadworks was "not a big deal" as people were used to being on a busy road.

Beatrice Rogers, who has lived near the roundabout for the last 50 years, told the BBC she predicted "serious hold-ups" once the works were complete.

She said: "It's idiocy. It wasn't necessary....in my opinion they've wasted a great deal of money.

"It did need some upgrading, but the only upgrading it needed was four traffic lights one at each corner so as to give pedestrians safety in crossing.

"I think people using the roundabout are going to get a shock when they realise buses will have priority, absolute priority."

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