New Leeds Castleford Cycleway?

[NorthernDave]

https://www.pontefractandcastleford...tween-leeds-and-castleford-approved-1-9580002

Planning approved apparently, but few details and not even a map.
Could be a nice leisure route, but I'm not sure how many commuters it would attract.
Also slightly concerned that I can't find much more about it online, other than references to the dreaded "cycling / walking route"...?

Let's hope the implementation is a sight better than the CSH that City Connect built in Leeds.

 

[LeetleGreyCells]

To connect Castleford to Leeds and eventually Wakefield would be great providing a (mostly, I presume) off-road cycling and walking route. The stumbling block I see is the need for the bridge mentioned in the article. Bridges cost money, who would foot the bill? That question could keep the route incomplete for a long time which would be a shame.

 

[kynikos]

You can view the plans on the LCC planning portal

The big problem is and will continue to be crossing the river at Skelton Grange; it's a nightmare. Although a Sustrans officer I bumped into tells me they're working on it.

 

[LeetleGreyCells]

You can view the plans on the LCC planning portal

The big problem is and will continue to be crossing the river at Skelton Grange; it's a nightmare. Although a Sustrans officer I bumped into tells me they're working on it.

I can’t see the plans on my phone for some reason but does that means two bridges are necessary or a longer route over current infrastructure?

 

[NorthernDave]

Didn't Leeds Council pay for / give Sustrans a huge amount of cash to build a bridge over the Aire somewhere down that way to link into Temple Newsam / NCN R66 a few years ago?

In fact, they did - this one cost a cool half million quid: https://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-ser...ture/skelton-bridge-linking-communities-leeds - is this a different bridge?

Looking at those plans (thanks for the link @kynikos ) it looks like that section of the route is firmly being targeted at leisure cyclists out for a pootle on a shared path rather than commuters or anyone out to get anywhere at a decent pace.

I've got to admit that I assumed that you'd already be able to go from Leeds city centre to Castleford on the canal towpath anyway?

 

[Ming the Merciless]

You can view the plans on the LCC planning portal

The big problem is and will continue to be crossing the river at Skelton Grange; it's a nightmare. Although a Sustrans officer I bumped into tells me they're working on it.

Yeah I hear they were working out approach velocities and ramp angles required to jump the gap.

 

[mjr]

Yeah I hear they were working out approach velocities and ramp angles required to jump the gap.

There's a place on Route 11 north of Cambridge like that, where you have a choice between carrying up steps to a footbridge and riding up a ramp and trying to jump the drain. "Cock up bridge" they call it, but apparently that predates the missing bridge farce.

 

[Venod]

I've got to admit that I assumed that you'd already be able to go from Leeds city centre to Castleford on the canal towpath anyway?

Yes you can indeed cycle from Leeds to Cas on the canal, a ride I have done on numerous occasions in both directions, they have done a lot of work at the Leeds end with new bridges and rerouting from the south to the North of the river at one point.
The bad part is there are still steps to negotiate from one side of Canal to the other just east of Twaite Mills, the old Skelton Grange Power Station Road, a solution would be to carry on through Twaite Mills.
There is a short cycle track from Castleford to Whitwood (old railway) this is where a bridge is proposed to cross the railway and join up with Cas to Wakefield track, an old bridge over the River Calder has recently been surfaced and opened, but is very rough at the other side to Methley.

 

[Garethleeds]

To connect Castleford to Leeds and eventually Wakefield would be great providing a (mostly, I presume) off-road cycling and walking route. The stumbling block I see is the need for the bridge mentioned in the article. Bridges cost money, who would foot the bill? That question could keep the route incomplete for a long time which would be a shame.

I think on twitter I saw this bridge is now in place?