THE £29 million Connecting Cities project has experienced fresh problems as resurfacing needs to be carried out on some of its canal towpath works.

Part of the canal route linking the Leeds and Liverpool Canal for the cycle superhighway project will be resurfaced after problems were found.

Canal & River Trust engineers are investigating after towpath improvement works were found to be not up to standard.

This work is expected to be completed within the next four weeks.

The canal stretch, from Shipley to Kirkstall in Leeds, has been resurfaced in its first section, which runs from Kirkstall to Rodley.

A tarmac path is being created on the towpath and then a buff coloured top coating is being laid to fit in with the canal setting.

The cost of the remedial work will be met in the overall cost of the contract.

Advance work has taken place on the towpath in the Bradford area and the towpath improvements are due to be completed in early summer.

A Canal & River Trust spokesman said: "During the inspection and testing process it was apparent that there were problems with the final surface. "Engineers from the Trust and the contractors are investigating to determine the exact cause, whether it is workmanship, specification or the material used – or indeed a combination of these issues.

"Remedial action is being taken, whereby the surface is being swept, which will give the opportunity for a thorough inspection which will then determine what further action is required.

"An action programme will then be agreed, but it is anticipated that remedial work will be carried out over the next four weeks and within the contract period.

"It is a very popular path, but we would ask that everyone respects the towpath closure notices while the works are ongoing, both for their safety and the safety of the workforce."

CityConnect, which is heading the project, said the resurfacing will not cause any problems to the completion date of the project.

Ginny Leonard, CityConnect programme communications and engagement manager, said: "CityConnect is working in partnership with The Canal and River Trust on the resurfacing of the canal towpath.

"During a recent inspection it was determined that the application of the tar spray and chip surface was substandard and needed to be re-laid.

"Work has now begun to reapply the surface."

The hitch follows criticism last week by some cycling groups over the design of part of the cycling superhighway in Thornbury, Bradford.

The junction of Grange Avenue and Dick Lane at Thornbury roundabout has been highlighted by critics who say the layout forces riders to give way to turning traffic from the three-lane gyratory and its two lane format is too narrow.

The 23km CityConnect cycling super highway, which links Bradford and Leeds and is due to open fully in December.