City Centre Construction Update 27 September 2024
Image of Bridge Street at the junction with Market Street where more space has been opened up. The Ginger Goose pub can be seen on the right.
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
Historic cast iron bollards reinstalled on Kirkgate
The main news this week is on Kirkgate, where we have reused and installed cast iron bollards that were originally in place on Market Street, at the Bank Street junction.
This is part of our wider commitment to reuse materials in a sustainable way, whilst respecting the heritage of the city centre. You can see an image below of the newly installed bollards.
The image shows historic cast iron bollards that have been reinstalled on Kirkgate, at the junction with Ivegate. Kirkgate Shopping Centre can be seen in the background.
Bradford College students tour the city centre works
This week, a group of Level 2 Electrical Installation students from Bradford College were given a guided tour of the city centre transformation works.
Guided by Hasanain Junaid, a site engineer from Balfour Beatty, students were given a first-hand look at the electrical elements of the works, such as new illuminated street signage and access bollards. The visit forms part of an exciting partnership between Balfour Beatty and Bradford College, which is providing young people with hands-on experience in construction and engineering opportunities.
Above: A group of Level 2 Electrical Installation students from Bradford College
More areas of the city centre re-open
As we get ready to re-open Market Street, we are pleased to share that the works at the Bridge Street and Bank Street junction have made enough progress to allow more of this area to be fully accessible. Some finishing touches are still in progress, but as we shared last week, we're committed to opening spaces as soon as they're functional.
The finishing touches will include the installation of street furniture and the planting of greenery in the new ground level and raised planters. Stay tuned to the e-newsletter for regular updates on these works.
The new spaces that we're creating are only for pedestrian use, and will make the city centre a more attractive place for people to live, work and spend time. This means that the newly pedestrianised roads are permanently closed to through-traffic. Authorised vehicles will be allowed access at certain times.
Image of Bridge Street at the junction with Market Street where more space has been opened up. The Ginger Goose pub can be seen on the right.
Reminders
Apply to join the next Community Liaison Group
The next City Centre Liaison Group will be held in October. If you'd like to attend to hear updates from Bradford Council and Balfour Beatty about the ongoing construction works, please email info@future-bradford.co.uk
Temporary pedestrian crossings
Above: Map shows the pedestrian crossing points in Bradford city centre. Temporary crossings are in place at the following locations: Market Street at the junctions with Charles Street, Bank Street, and Bridge Street. Hall Ings at the junctions with Drake Street, Bank Street, and Bridge Street. Bridge Street at the junctions with Market Street, and Broadway.
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
Last week Northern Powergrid started essential repair works on Vicar Lane, at the junction with Leeds Road, following a cable fault. The works, which is unrelated to the city centre pedestrianisation will continue next week. Travel information is provided in the map below.
Map shows the location of repair works been undertaken by Northern Powergrid and the impact on bus services.
There are three captions on the map:
Caption one: Works Location – Vicar Lane at the junction with Leeds Road.
Caption two: Northbound Services – no change.
Caption three: Southbound Services - diversion via Leeds Road, George Street and Ebeneezer Street.
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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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