City Centre Construction Update 16 August 2024

Welcome to the weekly e-newsletter for the Bradford City Centre Walking and Cycling Improvements Scheme.

This edition includes everything you need to know about the Bradford City Centre Walking and Cycling Improvements Scheme for the coming days.We upload each weekly newsletter to the Future Bradford website. You can find copies of each e-newsletter on our news page if you would like to look back at previous editions.

This weeks city centre progress

Works at the former Jacobs Well roundabout have been making good progress in recent weeks, where new paving and planting space has been laid down.

As shared in last week’s newsletter, the new super crossing at Jacobs Well opened up to pedestrians and cyclists. Work is being done to remove parts of old crossings where the road will be pedestrianised and superseded by the new super crossing.

You can find out more about the works happening at Jacobs Well and the wider works at Hall Ings by vising the Future Bradford website.

See the image to left for the progress made at Jacobs Well.

The works to pedestrianise Hall Ings is also making good progress, with the works to install planters before the junction with Bridge Street nearly complete.

You can find out more about the works happening at Hall Ings, Bridge Street and Jacobs Well, where a major new green space will be created, by visiting the Future Bradford website.

Elsewhere in the city centre, new paving and planters continue to be laid down on Market Street.

The opening up of Bank Street to pedestrians has also progressed further, with some of the remaining fencing being removed in the small parts where works have still been taking place.

Image of the paving and planting works at Hall Ings, before the junction with Bridge Street. The works to install the planters in this area are nearly complete.

From top to bottom: New paving and planting space laid down at the former Jacobs Well roundabout – the Jacobs Well pub is visible in the background: and another image of the progress made, facing the direction of Hall Ings, where a major new green space will be created.

Works pass Considerate Constructors Scheme with flying colours

This week Balfour Beatty, the contractors working on the Bradford City Centre Cycling and Walking Improvements project received a perfect score of 45/45 from the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) assessors.

This followed an audit of the scheme and working practices by the CCS which recognised the team’s efforts in carrying out continuous improvements in community engagement and environmental sustainability.

We are committed to ensuring that the city centre works are carried out sensitively and disruption is kept to a minimum wherever possible. We also appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding whilst the team carries out these transformative works to reshape Bradford’s city centre.

Graphic showing the results of the audit conducted by Considerate Constructors Scheme accessors. The project received perfect scores across community, environment and workforce. The audit was carried out across two separate visits by accessors.

Reminder: Temporary pedestrian crossings

Temporary pedestrian crossings have been opened across the city centre in places where works are happening.

Please note that the pedestrian route on the south side of Hall Ings has been temporarily diverted to the north side of Hall Ings to allow work on the new footway to continue between the junctions with Vicar Lane and Drake Street.

We have included a map of the pedestrian crossing points in the core of the city centre below. Please note that we have removed some crossing points on Bank Street, as they have been replaced with traffic-free open space. An extra crossing point has also been added on Bridge Street.

Map showing the pedestrian crossing points in the city centre. Crossings are in place at the following locations: Market Street, at the junctions with Charles Street, Bank Street and Bridge Street, as well as on Hall Ings at the junction with Bank Street.

Traffic management outside the core of the city centre has been and will continue to be removed where possible, as work has begun within the very core of the city centre. See below for a detailed summary of the latest updates about the works taking place around the city centre. If you would like to view any maps relating to where work is taking place, please click here.
Please do get in touch with us via our email address (info@future-bradford.co.uk) if you have any questions about the works taking place throughout the city centre.
What: On Sunbridge Road, city centre scheme works are complete. Cycle Superhighway works are still taking place in this area.
Why: This work had provided wider footpaths and introduced cycle lanes. New bus shelters have also been put in place for bus routes travelling out of the city centre.
Click here for more details on Sunbridge Road.
What: Works are continuing on the new central reservation on Godwin Street between Thornton Road and Jacobs Well.
Traffic management: Little Horton Lane is closed to all traffic at its junction with Godwin Street. Traffic travelling in either direction on Godwin Street is not permitted to use the new pedestrian super crossing to make a U-turn.
Why: This change will provide more space for bus stops and routes into the city and an additional bus lane on Godwin Street.
Click here for more details on Westgate and Godwin Street.
What: At Jacobs Well, works are continuing within and around the former roundabout.
Traffic management: There will continue to be lane closures and traffic management around Jacobs Well.
Why: This work has seen Jacobs Well roundabout become a super crossing. The new permanent pedestrian crossing here will become signalised.
Click here for more details on Jacobs Well, Prince’s Way and City Park.
What: Work is mostly complete on Croft Street and Senior Way and the new lanes are open to traffic. Works to install the new cycleway and central reserve are nearing completion on Manchester Road.
Traffic management: Lane closures will continue on Manchester Road northbound from Croft Street to Jacobs Well.
Why: The works here are to create an additional lane on the gyratory section of Croft Street in each direction and a new cycleway on Manchester Road.
Click here for more details on Senior Way, Croft Street and Manchester Road.
What: We are nearing completion of works on both sides of Lower Kirkgate, to construct a new cycleway and footway.
Traffic management: The taxi rank on Lower Kirkgate is no longer in use and has been permanently removed to make way for a new cycleway. Traffic management has been installed with two-way traffic lights on the section of Lower Kirkgate between the Midland Hotel and the junction with Cheapside, Market Street, and Kirkgate. Market Street is now closed to traffic at its junction with Kirkgate/Lower Kirkgate/Cheapside.
There is a temporary signal-controlled pedestrian crossing point in place at the junction of Kirkgate/Lower Kirkgate/Cheapside/Market Street. This is in place to ensure that pedestrians have a safe place to cross the road. Safe pedestrian routes away from the main road and works happening in this area are also in place. Signs are in place to help direct pedestrians along this route to avoid traffic on the main road.
Why: The works here are to widen the junction to Canal Road, to allow for improved cycle lane provision, and build a new bus shelter.
This work will also create a new crossing link into the city centre at Cheapside.
Click here for more details on Lower Kirkgate.
What: The installation of new drainage, kerbs and new carriageway, cycleway and footways will continue on Hall Ings.
Traffic management: Well Street and the section of Vicar Lane between Great Cross Street and Hall Ings is only open to buses and authorised traffic and the new Cyclops junction at Well Street/Vicar Lane/Hall Ings/Leeds Road is now operational. Hall Ings will continue to be reduced to one lane of traffic westbound between the junction with George Street and the junction with Drake Street.
The pedestrian route on the south side of Hall Ings has been temporarily diverted to the north side of Hall Ings to allow work on the new footway to continue between the junctions with Vicar Lane and Drake Street.
Hall Ings, between Bridge Street and Jacobs Well, is now closed to general traffic. This change is permanent. If you would like to learn more about these works and to view maps relating to this area, please visit our Hall Ings page for more information.
Why: The work on Well Street will re-open the road as a bus route, the work on Vicar Lane, allowing for, allowing for the reconnection of Vicar Lane to Hall Ings, with a new ‘CYCLOPS’ junction being introduced.
If you would like more information about what is happening across the city centre, including maps showing how the city is being transformed, please visit the FutureBradford website.
Click here for more details on Lower Kirkgate.

Reminder: temporary closure of the Bradford Interchange bus station

Information about alternative bus stops for services unable to use the Interchange Bus Station can be found on the Metro website. You can read the Combined Authority's latest update on the closure of the Bradford Interchange Bus Station on their website.