They were the cones that left motorists fuming.
Drivers had claimed there was little sign of work at Leeds Road near the John Smith’s Stadium, despite the area being coned off for weeks.
Then suddenly hours after The Examiner highlighted motorists’ misery on its website, the cones disappeared.
But drivers should not celebrate too hard as The Examiner understands the cones chaos could be back as a leak is being monitored on the other side of Leeds Road.
A spokesman for Kirklees Council admitted they could not claim the credit that the roadworks had suddenly shifted but revealed Northern Gas Networks had been due to remove them on Thursday.
He said: “They were due to finish on Tuesday but on Monday Northern Gas requested an extension to Thursday.
“They were able to complete the repairs and remove the lane closure late on Tuesday.”
A spokesman for Northern Gas Networks confirmed they planned to return.
Neil Armstrong, customer operations area manager, said: “Our essential repair work to this section of the gas main in Leeds Road is now complete and the road has been fully reinstated.
“Northern Gas Networks will be carrying out further repair work to the gas main in Leeds Road in the coming weeks.
“We will continue to keep customers informed via our website, Twitter and Facebook accounts and the local media.
“We would like to thank members of the public in advance for their patience and apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
Ex-Kirklees highways chief, Clr Martyn Bolt, said the council should be able to remove cones if there was clearly no work happening.
Describing the situation as “farcical”, Clr Bolt said it appeared that contractors had filled the hole in about a month ago and the cones had been left for a third party to collect.
Clr Bolt said the council should look at some kind of policy for staff to alert Highways if they noticed completed roadworks that were still coned off.
“We should encourage contractors to get a move on,” he said.
“It hinders the economy, pollutes the environment and drives motorists mad.”
