A major road serving Leeds Bradford Airport is set to close overnight for 11 days, threatening travel chaos for thousands of holidaymakers during the half-term break. The A658 Pool Bank New Road, a key route used by passengers arriving and departing from the airport, will be shut from 7pm to 6am starting Monday, May 18, until Friday, May 29.
Delays and Diversions
During the closure, travelers from North Yorkshire, the North East, and Wetherby can expect delays of around 30 minutes as they navigate the signed diversion route. The airport spokesperson warned that the works 'may cause disruption' and strongly recommended allowing extra time for journeys to and from the airport.
The diversion will direct traffic via the A660 through Lawnswood Roundabout onto the Leeds Ring Road, then via Horsforth Roundabout onto the A65 and through Yeadon before reaching the airport.
Half-Term Timing Sparks Frustration
The roadworks coincide with the start of half-term for most state schools in the region, a peak travel period that adds pressure to airport infrastructure. Social media users expressed frustration, with one calling the timing 'staggering' as families will be traveling on the first weekend of the break. Another joked about 'an even longer journey,' while a third noted that existing airport works had already caused 'horrendous' congestion.
Airport Expansion Plans
Leeds Bradford Airport, which handles over 4 million passengers annually, is home to airlines including Jet2, Ryanair, and easyJet. The airport aims to increase capacity to 7 million passengers by 2030 and opened a new terminal last year as part of its expansion. The closure of Pool Bank New Road is part of ongoing infrastructure improvements to support this growth.
