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Live as Leeds ring road closure causes traffic delays across city

A section of the inner ring road has been closed

• Updated 12:56, 24 MAR 2024

Drivers across Leeds city centre are experiencing traffic chaos this afternoon as a section of the inner ring road has been shut by police .

According to reports, police are dealing with an ongoing incident in the area after concerns were raised for the safety of a person on a bridge. The closure is causing significant traffic disruption across the city and drivers are being urged to avoid the area and find alternative routes.

Read more: Mum’s ‘living nightmare’ as son left brain damaged after receiving life-saving treatment at Leeds hospital

Police and ambulance services have been photographed at the scene. Leeds Live has contacted West Yorkshire Police for further information.

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This is a breaking news story. LeedsLive will continue to update this blog as we learn more. Scroll below for updates.

Traffic chaos as Leeds ring road shut

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Leeds blog — the fullest leeds travel guide for first-timers.

Not a too prominent name like London, Edinburgh or Oxford, but Leeds has a unique charm unlike any other city. If you are looking for a lesser known destination that is still full of surprises and interesting things, then Leeds is an ideal choice. So, is Leeds worth visiting, what to do in Leeds and how to plan a perfect budget trip to Leeds for the first-time? Let’s check out our Leeds blog (Leeds travel blog) with the fullest Leeds travel guide (Leeds guide, guide to Leeds, Leeds tourist guide, Leeds city guide) from how to get there, best time to come, where to stay, best places to visit, what to eat and top things to do in Leeds to find out the answer!

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• Where should I go in London? — 21 top famous places to go, see & best places to visit in London

Overview of Leeds (#leeds blog)

Leeds is the largest city in the West Yorkshire region of England with colorful and nostalgic houses and buildings by the river Aire. The city was formerly said to have been named Loidis as recorded by Saint Bede – he was also known by another name The Venerable Bede – who was a famous scholar of the Anglo-Saxon period (410-1066AD).

This is considered an ancient Welsh-speaking land which was part of the Kingdom of Northumbria. Another theory is that Loidis may also have been the name of a tribe meaning “people of the flowing river” – reminiscent of the Aire River today. In the Middle Ages, Loidis changed to Leedis and later Leeds became the official name.

If London is considered the fashion capital of the South, then Leeds and  Manchester  compete for the top position in fashion in the North. So when you come to Leeds, you will not be surprised by the very stylish fashion of the locals. Leeds is famous for its shopping centers and fashion festivals take place that always attract fashion companies and shopaholics.

Leeds city is located in a convenient location, close to the Aire river and this is also a famous cultural center, regularly taking place many big events such as: Leeds Festival, Leeds International Concert Season, Leeds International Film Festival, etc.

The beginning of the prosperity of Leeds must be mentioned in the Victorian era (1830-1900). This was the boom period of industrial revolution, literature, art, engineering, architecture and fashion. Great Britain during this period was extremely prosperous and Leeds became known as the center of the wool industry and Manchester took a unique position in cotton. Therefore, this place has been invested to become a center of fashion right from the Victorian era until now.

Despite being a big city, the cost of living in Leeds is much cheaper than other major cities in the UK. According to data from the website Expatistan, Leeds ranks 6th in the UK Cost of Living index. Relatively 30% cheaper than living in London.

Compared to other cities in the UK, Leeds is somewhat less well known and little information about the city. To be honest, at first, I didn’t expect much from Leeds either. But when I come to Leeds, I was surprised by the beauty of the city.

Once a bustling trading hub for England, Leeds’ tourist attractions are all tied to economic activity. Must mention such as Leeds Corn Exchange, Kirkgate Market… Despite experiencing many ups and downs of history, the city still retains its traditional beauty with nostalgic buildings amidst a bustling pace of life.

Culture and life: Located in the heart of England, the city of Leeds still retains its traditional beauty with nostalgic buildings by the river Aire. In addition, there are many theaters and museums that make visitors impressed with the magnificent beauty of these works.

This is also the city where the most famous universities in the UK are located, with around 200,000 students from 100 countries. Multinational companies such as Adsa, Capita, First Direct… are all located here, this is an opportunity for students to develop their career right after graduation.

When should you travel to Leeds? (#leeds travel guide)

Exploring the city of Leeds, if you come at the right time, you will have many interesting experiences. The peak tourist season in Leeds is in the period from July to September, in which August is the most crowded. However, because it is the peak tourist season, everything is quite expensive.

And if you want to save money on travel to Leeds, come here around April and November. The weather is not very favorable, so very few people want to go to Leeds at this time, so the service price sharply drops. However, before planning a trip, you just need to pay attention to the weather forecast, it will not affect the trip.

How to get to Leeds? (#leeds travel guide)

With a convenient transport system, you can easily go to Leeds from other UK cities. You can use train, coach and even plane.

But getting around in the UK, you should still take the train because it’s comfortable and fast (but it’s expensive). I also took the train from Nottingham to Leeds. Go up to check the tickets that was being discounted, so pack my bags and go.

• Buy UK train tickets at www.nationalrail.co.uk and coach tickets at www.nationalexpress.com .
• Traveling within the UK, students should make cards 16-25 to get cheap fares. And this card can be borrowed together by Asians to save money (because the conductor on the train is not free to look at each person’s face in the picture, and especially for Asians, they are even more hesitant to watch carefully).

Getting around Leeds (#leeds guide)

To getting from the suburbs to the center of Leeds or traveling within the city, you can buy a FirstDay Leeds ticket for around £4 (or a FirstWeek ticket for £14.50). You will be allowed to ride on any bus within the Leeds metropolitan area. You can also buy a single bus ticket for £1.

Like other cities in the UK, the city of Leeds has a fairly convenient transport network. But because the city is small, you can easily walk to tourist attractions.

Except for Kirkstall Abbey, it’s a bit far. To get here, you can take a bus or call a car on ride-hailing apps. We check the price, it’s cheaper to take Uber, so we called the car on Uber.

What to do & where to go in Leeds? (#leeds tourist guide)

Civic quarter (#leeds tourist guide).

Located in the center, known as the city square. This is an ideal walking place when traveling to Leeds. Coming here, visitors can freely admire famous works such as: Black Prince statue, the City Town Hall building, statue of inventor James Watt, Leeds Civic Hall,… ensure this tourist attraction will bring you many interesting experiences.

Civic Quarter is known as a pedestrian area like Town Square in the heart of Leeds. Famous for many precious statues, including the Black Prince and James Watt inventor.

In addition, Civic Quarter also owns an art gallery since 1988 in Victoria Square. With a collection from British artists J.S. Cotman (1782-1842), Italian and French artisans such as Courbet, Renoir and Signac. An ideal spot for art lovers.

Kirkstall Abbey (#leeds blog)

If you have time, you should visit the Kirkstall Abbey dating back to the Middle Ages. Only about 3 miles from the city center and 10 minutes by bus. Although only ruins, Kirkstall is a beautiful structure that evokes the history of the Cistercian Order. And visitors are free to walk right in the park by the Aire river to enjoy a peaceful Leeds.

Although no longer intact, Kirkstall Abbey is the most popular tourist attraction in Leeds. Partly because of the historical value that the building keeps, but also because of the beauty from the ruins.

Although there are just walls or pillars left, but they are telling a story. When I saw the picture of Kirkstall Abbey, I wanted to go there.

• Address: Abbey Rd, Kirkstall, Leeds LS5 3EH, U
• Opening hours: 10AM – 16:30PM (Closed on Mondays)
• Ticket price: £5.00 (If you are a Leeds citizen, you will not need a ticket)

Kirkgate Market (#leeds blog)

Leeds Kirkgate Market is located on Vicar Lane. This is the largest covered market in Europe with 800 stalls. First opened in 1822. The old yellow stalls inside the market make me fall in love.

Leeds has so many markets, but I didn’t have enough time, so I just had to observe and then rush to mingle with the crowds to see the Victoria Quarter. This is a place to sell high-end fashion items dating back to 1900. And that’s not all. The grand market opened in 1897 or the The Queen’s Theatre was built in 1898. These are fine examples of Victorian architecture that are sure to please those who take the time to visit.

Kirkgate Market is one of the largest indoor markets in Europe. If you look from the outside you will not think this is a market (because it looks so gentle, I thought it was a post office).

Inside the market there are many shops, but most especially Mark & ​​Spencer (a famous retail chain in the UK). This is the brand’s first store. In order to preserve the company’s heritage, in 2013 Mark & ​​Spence set up a souvenir stall inside the market.

To reveal more to you, there is a shop selling Vietnamese bread in the market. If you miss the taste of your hometown, you can try out to support the restaurant.

• Address: Vicar Lane, Leeds City Center LS2 7HY
• Opening hours: 8AM – 5:30PM
• Ticket price: Free
• Web: https://www.leeds.gov.uk/leedsmarkets

Leeds Town Hall (#leeds travel blog)

Leeds Town Hall is one of the most prominent buildings in Leeds. Built in the 19th century, with the purpose of showing the prosperity of the reign of Queen Victoria. Therefore, the grandeur of the work is not inferior to the town halls in big cities. And Leeds Town Hall is one of the largest city halls in the UK.

However, with the presence of the Leeds Civic Hall and the relocation of many ministries, the building is now used as a convention and conference center.

Address: The Headrow, Leeds LS1 3AD, United Kingdom

St John the Evangelist’s Church (#guide to leeds)

If you want to explore the old architecture in Leeds, you definitely cannot miss the St John’s Church. Built in 1634, with a unique and impressive design, this place has attracted the attention of many visitors. Stepping inside the church, you will be overwhelmed by the interior and bold Renaissance architecture.

Address: 23 New Briggate, Leeds LS2 8JD, United Kingdom

Millennium Square

Millennium Square is the central square in Leeds, where special city activities take place. The square is surrounded by prominent city structures such as Leeds Civic Hall, Leeds Town Hall, The Carriageworks Theater and Leeds City Museum.

Leeds Civic Hall (#leeds city guide)

Wandering the streets of Leeds gave me an unforgettable memory. In the chilly air, occasional gusts of wind make passersby shiver in fashionable outfits. The centuries-old buildings in this city still defy the weather.

Centrally located in Millennium Square is the Leeds Civic Hall. This is the city’s town hall, replacing Leeds Town Hall since 1933. The special feature of the building is located in 2 gold-leafed twin towers on both sides of 2.3m high. In each tower, there is an owl statue at the top and gold-plated clocks on both sides.

Architect Vincent Harris who designed and built it from 1853-1858. Leeds Civic Hall was opened by King George V and Queen Mary in August 1933. And it costs 360,000 pounds to build this beautiful structure.

Address: Calverley St, Leeds LS1 1UR, United Kingdom

Leeds Corn Exchange

One of England’s oldest Victorian buildings was designed and built by Cuthbert Brodrick from 1861 to 1864. The building looks like a crown that holds architectural significance and cultural symbolism. This is a must-see for anyone who loves architecture. And admiring fashion items as well as beautiful vintage items.

In the heart of Leeds city center stands a preserved Victorian building, the Leeds Corn Exchange. This is one of only three corn exchange that still function as a commercial center in the UK (actually no longer functioning as a corn trading spot).

The architecture inside the Leeds Corn Exchange is different from what many people imagine. The shops here are decorated and decorated in a vintage style, so you can easily find many beautiful corners.

Address: Call Ln, Leeds LS1 7BR, United Kingdom Hours: 10AM–6PM/Thursday: 10AM–9PM/Sunday: 10:30AM–4:30PM Ticket price: Free Web: https://www.leedscornexchange.co.uk/

Headrow and Briggate

If you don’t know where to go when traveling to Leeds, consider heading to Headrow and Briggate. A neighborhood with friendly people, with shopping malls springing up in series… There will be nothing more wonderful than being immersed in the lives of the people here, learning about the beauty of British culture, and being able to go shopping at very low prices.

Headrow is home to many cultural attractions, such as the West Yorkshire Playhouse, considered the largest theater outside London and one of the oldest living music halls in the world.

Leeds City Museum

The Leeds Museum is not only a place to display artifacts associated with the history of the city’s formation and development, but also has artifacts discovered from civilizations around the world such as India, Egypt, and Greece.

In addition to the exhibits, visitors can also experience virtual reality technology. This is my favorite point in Leeds City Museum, because this virtual reality experience will make sightseeing not boring.

• Address: Millennium Square, Leeds LS2 8BH, UK
• Opening hours: 10AM – 5PM (Closed on Mondays)
• Web: https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/leeds-city-museum/

Royal Armouries Museum

In Leeds, in addition to visit the Leeds City Museum to learn about the history of Yorkshire. You can also go to the Royal Armories Museum – which showcases weapons and armor from around the world

One of the most famous tourist attractions in Leeds, look no further than the Royal Armouries Museum. This is a place to store more than 8,500 artifacts dating back about 3,000 years. The artifacts here are mainly related to weapons and armor. Coming to the weapons museum, besides seeing the antiques, you also have the opportunity to understand more about the formation of the arms, weapons as well as the heroic resistance history of the people here.

Chasing the Minerva (Statue of goddess Minerva) incarnated in the form of an owl

The symbol of Leeds that can be seen on the shield with a history of nearly 200 years is three owls and a sheep. The sheep is associated with the Greek myth about the hero Jason in search of the golden fleece, while the associated with wisdom and intelligence.

An interesting thing for visitors is that you can become a detective to track down the owls. You will be surprised to discover they are present in so many places, it can be a striking golden statue, cast iron statues perched on a fence or an owl quietly lurking on the wall of an old building or a statue at 40-51 Briggate, Leeds LS1 6BR, United Kingdom.

With a music-loving soul, visitors will be immersed in the nightlife in Leeds. Experience this great atmosphere at Call Lane – where hundreds of cafes, restaurants, bars with different regional styles. Especially the Leeds Festival – a colorful music festival that takes place every August.

In Leeds, you have a wide variety of shopping options, depending on your budget. You can go to famous shopping centers. With many mid-range and high-end brands, in leading shopping malls such as: Trinity Leeds, Victoria Leeds or White Rose Shopping Centre.

What and where to eat?

The addresses of delicious restaurants in Leeds.

Leeds is also a place where anyone who is passionate about food is spoiled for choice. Typically Yorkshire pudding in any restaurant or in a bar to enjoy the atmosphere in a strange city.

Besides discovering the beauty of the city, enjoying the food here also gives you memorable memories of your trip. Some famous and good restaurants in Leeds, you can refer to such as:

Man V Roast

The restaurant is famous for its excellent delectable grilled meat. The meats here are imported from Skyer House Farm, so the quality is safe, as well as the delicious meat taste. In particular, the restaurant not only serves right at the spot, but if you do not have much time, or want to save money, you can come here to buy foods and bring them home.

Address: 144 Cardigan Rd, Burley, Leeds LS6 1LU, United Kingdom Hours: 8AM–6PM/Monday; Saturday: Closed

Discovering the city’s cuisine at Teppanyaki restaurant is also a great choice. This famous restaurant specializes in serving Japanese dishes such as: Sushi, Yakitori, chicken curry, etc. The dishes are prepared according to the authentic recipe, bringing an irresistible delicious taste.

Address: Belgrave Hall, Belgrave St, Leeds LS2 8DD, United Kingdom Hours: 6–10PM/Friday: 6–11PM/Saturday: 4:30–11PM/Monday: Closed

Zaap Thai Street Food Leeds

Zaap restaurant is also a favorite stop for diners. Because coming here you not only can enjoy Thai delicious food at the restaurant is decorated beautifully and impressively, bringing many the most beautiful virtual living angles when coming to Zaap. Some of the most iconic dishes at the restaurant you should enjoy such as: Dim Sum, soups, grilled meat, curry dishes…

Address: 22 Grand Arcade, Leeds LS1 6PG, United Kingdom Hours: 12–10PM/Friday/Saturday: 12–11PM

Abyssinia Cafe and Restaurant

Coming to the city without visiting Abyssinia restaurant is a mistake in experiencing the cuisine here. Because the restaurant’s dishes are famous for their delicious, attractive and different flavors compared to other restaurants. You can enjoy dishes such as: Stewed lamb, stewed chicken, steak…

Address: 12 Ashley Rd, Harehills, Leeds LS9 7AB, United Kingdom Hours: 12–10PM

Where to stay?

Below we recommend more best budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews you can refer to.

• Dakota Leeds ( Agoda , Booking )
• Jurys Inn Leeds ( Agoda , Booking )
• Clayton Hotel Leeds ( Agoda , Booking )
• Park Plaza Leeds ( Agoda , Booking )
• Malmaison Leeds ( Agoda , Booking )
• ibis Styles Leeds City Centre Arena ( Agoda , Booking )
• DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Leeds City Centre ( Agoda , Booking )
• Novotel Leeds Centre ( Agoda , Booking )

Check out more top and best hotels in Leeds on Agoda.com or Booking.com

Suggested Leeds itinerary

Leeds city is quite small, only need to go in 1 day to see all the attractions. You can go in two ways:

• Visit the attractions in the center first and then go to Kirkstall Abbey.
• Go to Kirkstall Abbey first and then go back to the central spots.

I chose the 2nd way, after arriving in Leeds, I went to Kirkstall Abbey right away, then turn around and go back to visit the attractions in the city center.

• I recommend everyone to use Three SIM card because this sim can be used in the UK and Europe, and it is easy to buy. You can buy at the following link.
• Always remember to stand on the right and give way to others when using escalators in the UK.
• Leeds is quite small, only visiting for 1 day is enough, you do not need to stay overnight unless you want to explore Leeds in a slow way. And room rates in Leeds are more expensive than in Manchester and there are not many choices anymore.

At first, I didn’t have much hope for Leeds, just thinking of simply finding a place to hang out to not be bored. But Leeds really surprised me because it was much more beautiful than I thought.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Leeds you can refer to

• Airport Flyer from Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) to Leeds City Center or Bradford Interchange Bus Station
• Leeds Castle Ticket in Kent
• Leeds Castle, Canterbury Cathedral, and Dover Full Day Tour from London
• Leeds Castle, Canterbury, Dover, & Greenwich River Day Tour and Boat Ride from London
• Leeds Castle, Canterbury, Dover, and Greenwich Day Tour from London
• From Leeds: Yorkshire Dales Emmerdale Locations Bus Tour
• Leeds: 2-Hour Highlights Walking Tour
• Leeds: Emmerdale Village Set Guided Tour
• London Travelcard
• London Explorer Pass
• London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tours (Open-Top)

Are you looking for more top things to do in London : Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Let’s check it out here . And Where should I go in London? — 21 top famous places to go, see & best places to visit in London.

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'Conan O'Brien Must Go' is side-splitting evidence of life beyond late night TV

Eric Deggans

Conan O'Brien dresses as a Viking in Norway. Conaco/Max hide caption

Conan O'Brien dresses as a Viking in Norway.

To be honest, when I first heard Conan O'Brien was ending his TV talk show in 2021, I assumed news that he might turn to variety shows and online programs to continue his career was some combination of face-saving and wishful thinking.

But after watching the four episodes of his new Max series Conan O'Brien Must Go , it's now obvious — even to a thickheaded critic like me — that leaving late night TV really was liberating for O'Brien. He's leveraged his unique sensibility into several different podcasts, a deal with Sirius XM , specials featuring other stand-up comics and now this travel series for Max — which resembles jokey specials he did for cable channel TBS back in the day.

And as the late night TV genre crumbles under sagging viewership and the decline of traditional media, O'Brien's renaissance also provides an example for the future — where fertile comedy minds and talented performers can spread their work over a much larger canvas.

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Is conan o'brien the best 'hot ones' guest ever discuss., learning a lesson from 'hot ones'.

O'Brien already made a splash recently with his brilliantly maniacal appearance on the interview-while-eating-hot-wings show Hot Ones , slobbering over hot sauces while claiming, as he was checked over by a fake doctor, that "I'm fine! I'm perfectly f*****g fine!"

This is the place where O'Brien shines — he's called it "this strange phantom intersection between smart and stupid" — and it's on full, freakish, super silly display in every episode of Conan O'Brien Must Go .

The conceit of the show is pretty simple. O'Brien heads overseas to visit average folks in Norway, Argentina, Thailand and Ireland who had once Zoomed in to speak with him on the podcast Conan O'Brien Needs a Fan . Sometimes the visits seem like a surprise — he catches one aspiring Norwegian rapper in shorts and Crocs after popping up on his doorstep — and others seem a bit more planned, including his visit to a radio show with about four listeners in Buenos Aires.

Each episode begins with a solemn monologue which sounds like it is delivered by the film world's most eccentric voice, German filmmaker and actor Werner Herzog (he's not credited in the show and when asked, a publicist at Max shared a quote from O'Brien: "I can neither confirm nor deny the voice in question.")

The torturous accent by "Herzog" makes every line sound absurdly hilarious, describing O'Brien as "the defiler ... with dull, tiny eyes ... the eyes of a crudely painted doll ... he scavenges in distant lands, uninvited, fueled by a bottomless hunger for recognition and the occasional selfie."

Now that's smart. And oh so stupid.

A funhouse mirror version of a travel show

O'Brien performs onstage with a fan in Norway Conaco/Max hide caption

O'Brien performs onstage with a fan in Norway

Fans of O'Brien's Conan Without Borders specials on TBS already know what his style is when he tackles a travel show — throwing himself into outrageous reactions and situations while working his quirky brand of improvised conversations with hapless bystanders.

In the Max series Conan O'Brien Must Go , that includes O'Brien offering screechy vocals onstage during a performance of a Norwegian emo/rap band. Or asking provocative questions of a couple therapist/sex expert. Or getting beat up in a "fight" with a 10-year-old boy in a bar.

It's all an excuse for O'Brien to unleash his energetic wit, taste for silly absurdity and skill at drawing laughs from sympathetic — if often befuddled — strangers. Whether you enjoy this special will depend on how you feel about O'Brien's style, which can feel a bit like the world's best class clown doing everything possible to make you crack a smile.

(Rent a family in Norway so they can say goodbye when he gets on a SeaCraft? Check. Get local artists to paint a mural of O'Brien, a soccer star and The Pope on the side of a building in Argentina? Double check.)

'Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend' Is A Joke Name For A Podcast — Sort Of

But what amazes in a larger sense is how O'Brien has turned his sensibility into a comedy brand to fuel work on many different platforms. And, at age 60, with more than 30 years as a comedy star, he's been released from the shackles of any genre to shine wherever he chooses — whether it's an episode of Hot Ones or a streaming service which sometimes looks like a collision between True Detective and 90 Day Fiancé .

Leaving late night TV as late night left him

I'm old enough that I started covering TV not long after O'Brien made his first move from the shadows of life as a comedy writer – he worked on Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons — to succeed David Letterman in 1993 as host of NBC's show Late Night (now hosted by Seth Meyers). Back then, NBC gave O'Brien years to figure out the show, honing his smartly serious comedy in a way that would inspire then-teenage fans like Seth Rogen and Bill Hader .

O'Brien left NBC after a disastrous deal where the network tried to make him host of its venerated late night program The Tonight Show and also keep its former host Jay Leno at the network. He moved to a late night show on TBS in 2010, but even then, there was a sense that his creativity was a bit hemmed in by the format.

After 28 Quirky Years, Conan O'Brien Is Leaving Late Night

By the time he left his TBS show Conan for good, it seemed O'Brien was already caught in a trend which would hobble other late night shows — as young viewers consumed his content online and ratings on cable dropped.

Now, with a podcast and digital media company worth many millions and growing status as a TV comedy legend still willing to do almost anything for a laugh, O'Brien is proving there is a successful life beyond late night.

Particularly, if you have the talent to play the fool while leaving little doubt you're also the smartest person in the room.

US 50 bridge closed west of Gunnison due to safety concerns

Travel advisory.

Gunnison and Montrose Counties  — A safety closure is in place for a bridge on US Highway 50 located west of Gunnison. The Colorado Department of Transportation is closing the bridge at the urging of the Federal Highway Administration and state bridge engineering experts due to the findings of an ongoing safety inspection, which identified anomalies in the bridge on Thursday, April 18. The closure is in place between US 50 Mile Point 131 (intersection with Colorado Highway 92) and MP 138. Local traffic will be allowed through the closure point to reach residences. Motorists should use COtrip to plan an alternate route. See below for more information about the northern and southern recommended alternate routes. CDOT has set up an incident command and will coordinate with local, state and federal agencies in order to respond as quickly and effectively as possible. CDOT has been conducting a special inspection for high-strength steel bridges for the Blue Mesa bridges as required by the Federal Highway Administration. This inspection was required because of known issues with similarly constructed bridges elsewhere in the country. A defect was observed during an early investigation of the bridge at approximately Mile Point 136.3. CDOT immediately brought in a second inspection crew with resources to perform another method for testing whether the defect posed a safety hazard on the bridge. The second inspection took place on Thursday, April 18.  CDOT is continuing to assess the safety of the bridge and to quickly determine options for interim and permanent fixes – and will keep the public informed as soon as more information is available. The bridge closure is located between Gunnison and Montrose. It is located east of the US 50 Little Blue Creek Canyon project, which is currently in a planned winter shutdown.

Recommended Alternate Routes

This closure will create a significant detour for commuters between Montrose and Gunnison. The recommended detour route for through traffic is via Interstate 70 to the north or US 160 to the south. CDOT understands the inconvenience that this creates and is rapidly evaluating options to improve options for residents, businesses, and travelers on the western slope. The northern route is 354 miles and requires approximately six hours of travel time. The southern route is 331 miles and requires nearly 7 hours of travel time. CDOT and local partners are exploring whether it is feasible at this point in the season to clear local seasonal routes that may be able to significantly reduce the detour time for local travelers. 

Know Before You Go

Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts and anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:

• Road conditions and travel information: COtrip.org
• Download the COtrip Planner app: bit.ly/COtripapp
• Sign up for project or travel alerts: bit.ly/COnewsalerts
• See scheduled construction lane closures: bit.ly/laneclosures
• Connect with @ColoradoDOT on social media: Twitter , Facebook , Instagram and YouTube

Remember: Slow For The Cone Zone

The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones.

• Do not speed in work zones. Obey the posted speed limits.
• Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected.
• Watch for workers. Drive with caution.
• Don't change lanes unnecessarily.
• Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones.
• Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you.
• Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.
• Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
• Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.
• Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so.
• Be patient!

Download the COtrip App!

The new free COtrip Planner mobile app was designed to meet the growing trend of information on mobile and tablet devices for the traveling public. The COtrip Planner app provides statewide, real-time traffic information, and works on mobile devices that operate on the iOS and Android platforms. Visit the Google Play Store (Android devices) or the Apple Store (iOS devices) to download!

Vince McMahon's life after WWE: Kittens, vacations and staying in touch with Trump

As he faces a mountain of legal woes, former WWE leader Vince McMahon is traveling, eating out and keeping in touch with friends and associates — including former President Donald Trump.

McMahon resigned as executive chairman of World Wrestling Entertainment’s parent company almost three months ago after a former employee, Janel Grant, accused him in a bombshell lawsuit of sexual abuse and trafficking. He denied the allegations. McMahon, 78, is also facing a federal criminal investigation , although he hasn’t been charged.

NBC News and CNBC talked to 11 people familiar with McMahon and WWE about how he’s been spending his time — and how the global brand he built over more than four decades is moving on without him. These people, including close personal associates and company insiders, declined to be named, citing ongoing legal cases and the confidential nature of internal corporate communications.

Multiple WWE insiders said he hasn’t had any contact with company leaders and figureheads since he resigned. Mark Shapiro, the operating chief of WWE parent company TKO Group Holdings, said in March that McMahon “doesn’t work for the company, doesn’t come into the office, and he’s not coming back to the company.”

That also means McMahon hasn’t talked to his son-in-law, WWE creative chief and former superstar Paul “Triple H” Levesque, or daughter, Stephanie McMahon-Levesque, regarding company matters, sources said. While she introduced WWE’s WrestleMania event earlier this month, McMahon-Levesque, who worked beside her father for more than 20 years and played roles in storylines, currently has no involvement with the company, according to people familiar with the matter. Levesque and McMahon-Levesque declined to comment through a spokesperson, as did a WWE representative. 

McMahon is nonetheless indelibly linked with the wrestling outfit, which he bought from his father 42 years ago. Still, he seems to have moved on, according to multiple sources. McMahon has kept up his other routines, and it’s as if he’s unfazed by his legal fights, two sources said.For instance, on an afternoon in late March, McMahon returned on a private plane to the United States from the sunny Turks and Caicos Islands -- but he wasn’t alone, according to a person close to him. He had with him seven kittens and a puppy, all of which he brought back to be adopted by his friends, this person added. 

“If anything, he’s enjoying life,” said the person, who added that McMahon had also taken a trip to Italy. 

Jessica Rosenberg, an attorney for McMahon, declined to comment regarding the aspects of the former WWE chief’s life reported in this article. In an emailed statement Tuesday, however, she criticized Grant’s suit: “The lawsuit’s claims are false, defamatory and entirely without merit. We intend to vigorously defend Mr. McMahon and are confident that he will be vindicated.”

Life amid litigation

The details of McMahon’s life after his WWE reign present a stark contrast to Grant’s accusations, which paint a graphic portrait of a violent and controlling man. In the federal lawsuit, filed Jan. 25, Grant’s attorneys said that she was “the victim of physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault and trafficking at WWE,” naming McMahon and former WWE executive John Laurinaitis. Both men have denied the accusations in the suit. The lawsuit also named WWE as a defendant. WWE and its parent company, TKO, have said that they take Grant’s allegations “very seriously.” 

“Vince McMahon raped, trafficked and physically assaulted Janel Grant as part of his decades-long normalization of treating women within the WWE as objects. He might have thought that Janel would just walk away, but that wishful thinking couldn’t be further from the case,” Ann Callis, an attorney for Grant, said in a statement Wednesday. “Every day we are focused on adding to our mountain of evidence, speaking with other victims, hiring renowned experts on sex trafficking/coercive control and preparing to vociferously litigate this case.”

Federal investigators seized a phone from McMahon and have been trying to determine whether federal law was broken in the conduct surrounding Grant’s allegations, NBC News reported in February . WWE had disclosed last summer that investigators served McMahon with a federal grand jury subpoena and executed a search warrant in July.McMahon is cooperating with authorities, according to one of the people close to him. McMahon believes officials won’t bring any charges against him and that Grant’s civil case will be settled out of court, said a person close to the former wrestling executive.

Nicholas Biase, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, declined to comment.

A spokesperson for Grant’s attorneys said that there have been absolutely no settlement talks with McMahon.

While his legal battles persist, McMahon is often ferried by a private driver from his posh Connecticut home to Manhattan, according to one of the sources close to him. There, he eats with friends at restaurants such as the old-school Italian spot Il Tinello East on 46th Street, sees his longtime barber for biweekly haircuts and works with his personal trainer multiple times a week, the source said.  Two other sources, however, say McMahon has otherwise been “quite guarded” and often on the phone with his lawyers to map out plans since Grant’s lawsuit was made public.

Staying in touch

McMahon has also talked to Trump, according to two of the people close to the wrestling impresario. The two billionaires have been in touch regularly, according to a person close to McMahon, although it isn’t clear what they’ve discussed.

Trump and the McMahon family go way back: The former president hosted two WrestleMania events in Atlantic City in the late 1980s, engaged in a wrestling “feud” with McMahon in 2007 and is a member of the WWE Hall of Fame. Linda McMahon, McMahon’s wife, served as the Small Business Administration’s head in Trump’s Cabinet, led a pro-Trump super PAC and is now on the board of the publicly traded Trump Media and Technology Group.

In 2022, The Wall Street Journal reported that McMahon paid $5 million in previously unrecorded expenses to the since-dissolved Donald J. Trump Foundation during two of the years Trump appeared on WWE programming.

Trump, who’s running for a second term as president, has also been accused of sexual assault and is facing his own costly pile of civil and criminal legal troubles, including four separate indictments. Trump has denied wrongdoing in his various cases, pleading not guilty in each criminal proceeding, including a New York trial that started Monday. Another person close to McMahon said that the two men don’t discuss their legal problems and that Trump doesn’t provide legal advice.

Hours after the publication of this story, a spokesperson for McMahon pushed back.

“Mr. McMahon has not been ‘staying in touch’ or ‘been in touch regularly’ with former President Trump. He has spoken with Mr. Trump once in the past several years and that was for about a minute or so after Mr. McMahon’s back surgery. Other than that, there have been no communications between the two,” the spokesperson said.

A representative for Trump declined to comment.

Since he resigned, McMahon has been in touch with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and John Cena, sources said. Johnson and Cena, both Hollywood superstars, are two of WWE’s biggest success stories.

Publicly, Johnson has thanked TKO and WWE executives regarding his addition to the TKO board earlier this year. In February, Cena told the radio host Howard Stern that “the whole thing is super unfortunate and it sucks,” while noting that he loves McMahon and has a “great relationship” with him. “But in the same breath,” he added at the time, “I’m also a big advocate of accountability.”

Cena and Johnson are both represented by the William Morris Endeavor agency, which is part of Endeavor Group — the majority owner of TKO.A spokesperson for Johnson declined to comment. A representative for Cena didn’t respond to requests for comment. 

WWE in transition

This isn’t the first time WWE has had to contend with controversy stemming from its former longtime leader. McMahon was acquitted of federal criminal charges in the early 1990s related to the steroid scandal that engulfed the wrestling world at the time. 

In 2022, he briefly stepped down as WWE’s leader after the Journal reported that he paid millions of dollars to multiple women to cover up his alleged extramarital affairs. The Journal also reported that other women had come forward with sexual misconduct allegations . WWE amended its financial reports to reflect the payments. McMahon denied all wrongdoing. 

His daughter helped take over leadership of the company in the interim, but McMahon-Levesque resigned when her father, who owned a controlling stake in WWE, returned in early 2023 . McMahon then engineered a deal to merge the company with Endeavor Group’s UFC to form TKO. Longtime Hollywood super agent Ari Emanuel is the CEO of both Endeavor and TKO. 

That deal, announced in April 2023 , made McMahon the executive chairman of the new company, and he gave up majority control of WWE. At the time, he told CNBC he wouldn’t be “in the weeds” with creative decisions but he would weigh in on big decisions. That marked a big shift for McMahon. His family has been in the business dating back to the early 20th century. After buying the company from his father, who was known as “Vince Sr.,” the younger McMahon then employed flamboyant superstars such as Hulk Hogan and the Rock, staging glitzy pay-per-view events like WrestleMania, to build it into an international sensation. And while WWE is still defined in part by the family, McMahon’s daughter and son-in-law are publicly attempting to push the brand into the future.  

At WrestleMania 40, held earlier this month in Philadelphia, McMahon-Levesque surprised the crowd with an appearance and hailed her husband’s leadership. “Every Wrestlemania is special for its own reason, but I think WrestleMania 40 might be the one I’m most proud of, because this is the first WrestleMania of the Paul Levesque era,” she said . (Linda McMahon joined her daughter backstage, according to an Instagram photo posted by wrestling star Charlotte Flair.) Levesque himself proclaimed a “new era” for WWE. 

It was a significant moment for the brand, coming during the first WrestleMania since the Grant lawsuit -- and it’s the first one under TKO’s management. Still, some rank-and-file WWE employees have griped that the company hasn’t done more to address the situation, according to an insider. After McMahon quit, Shapiro told a global town hall for both TKO and Endeavor employees “in no uncertain terms” that the former wrestling boss wouldn’t return, according to another insider. Shapiro also assured employees that Levesque and WWE President Nick Khan have his support, this person said. 

Otherwise, WWE is more relaxed since McMahon resigned in January, sources said. When McMahon was still running things, he would come in late in the afternoon and often stay until around midnight or beyond, two current employees said. (His office at WWE headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, is unoccupied but otherwise intact, according to an executive, who called it “spooky.”) He had a reputation for being capricious and quick to fire employees, which generated fear and created a chilling effect, according to sources. 

Now there’s more levity and freedom to make a mistake or suggest an idea, some employees said.

The current leadership operates more conventionally, giving underperforming employees a standard progress report and opportunities to improve before taking action, they added. 

Some McMahon loyalists remain, but one employee said: “WWE is actually a really great place to work, and Vince distracted from that. It’s been much better since he left.” Another said: “People feel like they’re on steadier ground.”The company, meanwhile, is charting its post-McMahon course with the help of lucrative media rights deals. In September, WWE signed a $1.4 billion deal with NBC News’ parent company, NBCUniversal, for domestic rights to “Friday Night SmackDown.” In January, it inked a 10-year, $5 billion pact with Netflix to move its flagship “Raw” show and other programs to the streaming giant next year. WWE announced both agreements after it became part of TKO and McMahon ceded much of his official control over the brand.

There’s yet another sign suggesting that McMahon’s distance from WWE is more than temporary: He has sold hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of shares in TKO since November, a sizable chunk of those sales coming after he resigned in January. That’s different from when he briefly stepped down in 2022.  

“This time, it’s like, OK, now, it’s over -over,” one of the insiders said.

A version of this story was published on CNBC.com .

Chloe Melas is an entertainment correspondent for NBC News. 

Alex Sherman covers media for CNBC.