Bradford’s ambitious Transforming Cities Fund project is moving forward with the commencement of the next phase of preparatory works set to take place along Wakefield Road in the city centre. These upcoming works aim to alleviate congestion while junction upgrades are constructed as part of the main Transforming Cities Fund initiative. The preparatory works will also support the delivery of the district heat network and One City Park.
Over the next two weekends, specific preparatory measures will be implemented, which will require temporary adjustments to the road infrastructure. Notably, the segregated cycleway on Wakefield Road between the Dudley Hill Roundabout and Croft Street will be temporarily removed.
The timeline for these preparatory works is as follows:
Weekend 1:
On Friday, July 21, between 9.30 am and 3.30 pm, one inbound lane of Wakefield Road, spanning from the Dudley Hill Roundabout to Croft Street, will be closed to facilitate the removal of road markings.
Subsequently, a full closure of the same stretch will occur from 8 pm on Friday, July 21, until 5 am on Saturday, July 22, and also from 8 pm on Saturday, July 22, until 5 am on Sunday, July 23, to undertake the removal of infrastructure.
Weekend 2:
On Tuesday, July 25, between 9.30 am and 3.30 pm, work will shift to the outbound section of Wakefield Road, from Croft Street to the Dudley Hill Roundabout, with one lane being closed to facilitate the removal of road markings.
Additionally, a full road closure will be in effect on the same stretch from 8 pm on Friday, July 28, until 5 am on Saturday, July 29, and again from 8 pm on Saturday, July 29, until 5 am on Sunday, July 30, to carry out the removal of infrastructure.
During the road closures, appropriately signed diversions will be in place, and bus services will be temporarily diverted to minimize disruptions to public transport.
The long-term vision of the Transforming Cities Fund project includes the creation of a permanently segregated cycleway alongside dedicated bus lanes on Wakefield Road. This enhancement will be made possible through funding from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement. Once completed, the city centre improvements are expected to offer improved transportation options and better connectivity for the residents of Bradford.
As the project progresses, the local authorities and stakeholders are dedicated to ensuring minimal inconvenience to the public during construction. The Transforming Cities Fund initiative represents a significant investment in Bradford’s infrastructure, promising to transform the city’s urban landscape for the better.
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “The major programme of works being undertaken as part of the Transforming Cities Fund project, will see the largest transformation of the city centre in decades. We recognise that this work will cause disruption to those using the roads in and around the city centre. The work being carried out on Wakefield Road aims to help to alleviate some of that disruption to traffic by increasing capacity. Signs warning people about the roadworks are already up and people are asked to avoid the area and seek alternative routes.”
