City Centre Construction Update 20 September 2024
The image shows paving being laid on Bridge Street.
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.
Progress update
More areas of the city centre re-open
Last week we reported that we were getting ready to re-open Market Street, joining the neighbouring Bank Street, which was recently made fully accessible. Most of the fencing has now been taken down and we are just a week or two away from fully opening this newly pedestrianised street.
There is also good news for cyclists and pedestrians, the footpath and cycleway on Manchester Road around Jacobs Well, down Prince’s Way to Bradford Live, will fully open from today. While some finishing touches, like landscaping the verges, are still in progress, we're committed to opening spaces as soon as they’re functional rather than waiting for cosmetic details to be completed. More on this in the next section.
The image shows a section of the completed cycleway on Prince's Way. Bradford Live can be seen in the background.
Finishing touches
Most of the construction work is due to be completed by the end of the year, but there will still be finishing touches to complete to bring everything to life. This will include the installation of street furniture and the planting of greenery in the new ground level and raised planters. While this decorative work will mainly continue into the new year, we expect the first tree planted to be placed on Market Street in the coming weeks. Stay tuned to the e-newsletter for updates.
Other city centre progress
It’s a similar story to previous weeks, with good progress continuing to be made with paving. The biggest change is on Bridge Street, adjacent Centenary Square, as shown in the image below.
The image shows paving being laid on Bridge Street.
Community Liaison Group
Last week, the first City Centre Liaison Group meeting took place at The Great Victoria Hotel, bringing together residents, workers, and business owners. Attendees received updates from Bradford Council on the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) project and from Balfour Beatty on the ongoing construction works. The session included a Q&A and discussions about the developments.
If you’d like to take part in the next meeting, which will take place in October, please email info@future-bradford.co.uk
Update on Bradford Interchange bus station
It was announced by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority this week that plans are being drawn up to reopen the bus station at Bradford Interchange, following it's closure in January 2024 due to safety concerns.
A report published by the Combined Authority ahead of their meeting next week, has revealed that it can reopen, but that appropriate safety measures need to be put in place first, as well as additional checks to make sure it’s safe for services to resume after months of being out of operation.
As of 11 September 2024, the Combined Authority is working at pace on plans to bring the bus station back into operation by January 2025.
You can read the Combined Authority's latest update on the closure of the Bradford Interchange Bus Station on the Combined Authority website.
Information about alternative bus stops for services unable to use the Interchange Bus Station can be found on the Metro website.
Reminder: Changes to the permitted service and residential vehicles route
Map showing the new route that permitted service and residential vehicles must follow to access the city centre core between permitted hours, which is any time before 10:30am and any time after 4:30pm each day. Vehicles should enter the one-way system via gate B (from Leeds Road) and exit via gate A (towards Cheapside). We would like to remind road users that the access route is currently operating a 7.5 tonne weight restriction for vehicles.
Northern Powergrid Works
Essential repair works, unrelated to the TCF works, are due to undertaken by Northern Powergrid on Vicar Lane, at the junction with Leeds Road, following a cable fault. The work will start on Monday 23 September for up to two weeks.
Temporary traffic signals will be in place to allow works to be completed safely. Northbound bus services will remain unaffected, and the traffic management will allow them to proceed as normal. However, southbound services will need to divert via Leeds Road, George Street and Ebeneezer Street.
Follow Metro on X for live bus updates.
To find out more about the work, visit the Contact Us page of the Northern Powergrid website.
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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.
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Cycle Superhighway works are still taking place west of the junction with Barry Street. This work has 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.
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What: Work on the new central reservation on Godwin Street between Thornton Road and Jacobs Well and the new pocket park at the bottom of Little Horton Lane continues.
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.
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What: At Jacobs Well, works are continuing within and around the former roundabout at Jacobs Well.
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.
Click here for more details on Jacobs Well, Prince’s Way and City Park.
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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 with the finishing touches such as soft landscaping underway.
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.
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What: We are nearing completion of works on both sides of Lower Kirkgate, to construct a new cycleway and footway.
Traffic management: Two-way traffic lights have been installed 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.
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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.
Why: The work on Well Street has re-opened the road as a bus route, while the work on Vicar Lane has allowed for the reconnection of Vicar Lane to Hall Ings via the new ‘CYCLOPS’ junction.
Find out more
You can find out more about the scheme on the Future Bradford website or by getting in touch using the details and links below.
Get in touch if you would like to ask any questions
Email: info@future-bradford.co.uk
Write: Freepost BFD Highways
X (formerly Twitter): @bmdcHighways
Instagram: bradfordhighways
Facebook: Bradford Council Highways
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