TEN weeks of road works are planned for the busy A658 running through Pool-in-Wharfedale to allow engineers to repair a culvert.

Work on the under-road tunnel on Pool Bank New Road, near the junction with the A660 Leeds Road, is expected to start after the new year.

The scheme to build a new reinforced concrete box culvert straight across the road was initially to have begun last year but the plan would have involved work on private land next to the road, and Leeds City Council could not reach an agreement with the landowner.

Now council officers have come up with a new scheme which would involve constructing a reinforced concrete slab over a section of the existing culvert beneath the carriageway only. The scheme aims to negate the need for any work on private land while protecting the part of the structure which is in the worst condition.

Work is expected to take ten weeks and temporary traffic signals and single lane traffic restrictions will be needed throughout the period.

Leeds City Council says construction work will start sometime after the new year and will be timed to minimise traffic disruption as far as possible.

This week Adel and Wharfedale councillor Barry Anderson said: "It is unfortunate that the Council haven’t been able to gain agreement in respect of their original proposal, however I welcome the way the Council has worked to try to find a solution to this much needed piece of work.

"I am not qualified enough to make any comment on the engineering solution however I am concerned at the disruption that will be caused in the village and residents could be forgiven for thinking that Pool is consistently under attack from the various highways works being carried out by the Council, Utility companies etc."

He argued that the traffic management plan should have been made available at the same time as the information was released about the culvert proposal.

"It is also important that the timing of the actual work over a 10 week period minimises the disruption," he added.

"For example, I wouldn’t want to see it taking place through months where the weather might be adverse and as such the work might take longer than ten weeks. Equally I would be concerned if the work was taking place at a time when vehicular movement through the village was at a peak and I feel that flexibility will be needed.

"There will also be an impact on the businesses within Pool village and whatever solution they come up with this needs to be considerative of this; but the safety of pedestrians whilst moving throughout the village is paramount. There will also be an impact on the surrounding towns and villages and highways will need to be spot on with their diversion signing to help motorists move through as quickly as possible."