SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Has anyone else noticed the temporary barriers that have sprung up between the road and the pavement on bridges West Leeds? What are these for? I thought the ones on Carr Croft in Armley were to limit the weight on the railway bridge by creating a single lane bottle neck but they've appeared on Tong Road and Canal Road as well. They're all railway crossings, is Network Rail worried about something?

Cardiarms wrote: Has anyone else noticed the temporary barriers that have sprung up between the road and the pavement on bridges West Leeds? What are these for? I thought the ones on Carr Croft in Armley were to limit the weight on the railway bridge by creating a single lane bottle neck but they've appeared on Tong Road and Canal Road as well. They're all railway crossings, is Network Rail worried about something? Could it be down to continued “fall out” from Great Heck? We wouldn’t want a sleeping Armleyite ending up in front of a train Alternatively are they worried the icy paths might mean a pedestrian ends up slipping on to the road and under a car and want to avoid compensayshun claims

Maybe due to the EU trucks that now run at a higher GVW than our uk ones, or is it the new bendy buses, not sure if the bridges mentioned are on a bus route

It's to do with (amongst other things) the crashworthiness of the bridge barriers - work has recently been done on the bridge where York Road crosses over Sherburn Road, for example. As far as I'm aware nothing has ever crashed through those barriers in the 40+ years (?) they've been there, but we can't be too careful can we? Though to be fair, a 44-tonne truck travelling at 56mph is going to demolish most things it runs into.The bridge where the M621 crosses the Leeds - 'uddersfield railway line has also been beefed up recently and several bridges on the M62 (over roads) have had similar treatment.The compensation culture that the government introduced with the advent of "no win - no fee" is no doubt responsible.

Where will it ever end...........

As far as I'm aware nothing has ever crashed through those barriers in the 40+ years (?) I believe you to be correct Davey, though as you will be equally aware, the same cannot be said for the surrounds of the Red Lion nd the wsll to the former large house opposite.These acidents, frequently involving needless fatalities are invariably caused by Leeds Highw ays continuing to allow traffic to turn right from the A64 and right onto the A64 from the adjacent Baildon Drive, a junction at a point where the road changes from dual to single carriageway and at the brow of the steep blind rise from the dip which is the Cock Beck (and that the proposed controlled access in time to come for the temporarily postponed housing development).Busses already are obliged to use th loops passing under the A64 to access York Road and reach the opposing sides of the estates. I always use that route and do not even join A64 to east at the Red lion - in keeping with anyone else who considers their life to be worth preserving. Time it was closed ogether with preventing U turns at the precise point where tfaffic legitimately travelling at up to 50mph finds the road narrows to a single lane!

These barriers don't look more than pedestrian control, mesh uppers with a heavy base to keep them upright.

Have spoken with a friend who works for network rail and has been involved (in an office capacity) with the instillation of these barriers on bridges over their lines.They are to do with, as was touched on earlier in this thread, the increased axle loading of modern road going goods vehicles, whilst the bridges affected are quite capable of standing up to the stress and strain of having a couple of 44 ton lorries cross over them there is some concern about having this happen while other vehicles are parked on bridges or, where the road would allow, two lines of traffic become three or even four.Basically its an attempt to limit the loading on the bridge.

Thanks! I know someone would know.

Cheers Big N, i was jus tabout to post that!