A £48 MILLION road scheme will include improved access to a rail station and improvements to Bradford Beck, as well as the widening of a major road.

The Bradford-Shipley Route Improvement Scheme was first announced several years ago, but there has been little visible movement on the project.

However, next week members of West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the body that is funding the scheme, will approve the funding for a full business case for the project.

It will be the first time many of the scheme’s details are discussed, including improvements to Frizinghall Rail Station.

A report on the outline business case will go before members of the West Yorkshire and York Investment Committee on Wednesday.

£64 million link road plan to beat congestion in South Bradford

The report says the work will reduce congestion on the Canal Road corridor by eight per cent and turn Manningham Lane into a “sustainable transport route” - more attractive to pedestrians and cyclists.

It describes the project as “very high value for money.”

If members approve the business case the aim is for land acquisition for the route to complete by December 2021, for construction to start in September 2022 and for the work to be finished by April 2025.

Describing the works, the report says: “The main scheme at Canal Road starts at the junction of the A650 Canal Road/A6181 Hamm Strasse and ends at the junction of the A6038 Otley Road/A657 (Fox Corner) - a total route length of approximately 4.6km and will comprise of two lanes northbound and two lanes southbound.

“The proposed interventions on this route include traffic signal upgrades, new signalled controlled junctions, road widening / merging, changes to traffic movement and restrictions, a segregated cycle way, and the de-culverting and flood risk management works at Bradford Beck.

“The proposed interventions to the Manningham Lane corridor will include traffic signal upgrades, junction improvement, and changes to the pedestrian crossing facilities.”

It says the Canal Road works will “directly support better journey times for all modes on this corridor, improve accessibility to Frizinghall rail station and neighbouring towns (primarily Shipley), encourage uptake of cycling through delivery of a segregated cycle way, and improve the urban environment at Bradford Beck.”

The report says these works will encourage motorists to use this route rather than Manningham Lane, adding: “The introduction of improvements to the Canal Road corridor will enable the parallel Manningham Lane to become a sustainable transport route, supporting better bus journey times and improving bus journey reliability, as well as improving the walking provision with better crossing facilities.”

Members will be told the works will reduce congestion on the Canal Road corridor by 8 per cent (buses by 12 per cent) by 2030, improve journey time reliability for bus services along Canal Road, increase bus and rail patronage as well as cyclists along the corridor by 2030, facilitate housing and employment developments along the Bradford/Shipley route, forecast to create over 3,200 new dwellings, of which 640 within 5 years of scheme opening and improve air quality by reducing levels of particulate matter such as Nitrogen Oxide within five years of scheme opening.

The committee will be advised to approve £2.382m funding for a full business case for the project when they meet in Wellington House, Leeds, on Wednesday December 4 at 11am.