A MULTI-MILLION-POUND project to improve a large sector of canal towpath in the Bradford district is underway and has shut part of the route until late summer.
The upgrade works are being undertaken off the Leeds-Liverpool Canal between Apperley Bridge and Shipley.
It is part of West Yorkshire Combined Authority's (WYCA) CityConnect programme, which is pumping in £2.7 million to fund the towpath improvements on this stretch and also a 4.3 kilometre section between Milnsbridge and Slaithwaite on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal.
The aim is to enable more people to walk and cycle the routes, by resurfacing and widening the towpaths.
The improvements off the Leeds-Liverpool Canal have been split into two sections.
Work got underway between Dock Lane Swing Bridge in Shipley and Buck Hill Swing Bridge in Esholt on March 18.
This is roughly 3km of towpath.
The other sector is from Strangford Bridge to Dobson Lock, with work starting there last Monday (March 21).
This is around 2km of towpath.
Both parts of the towpath are shut between those areas and WYCA said the closures are expected to be in place until mid-August.
But two signs at the Dobson Lock end of one part of the closures bring about some confusion on this front.
The route is blocked by a metal fence, just beyond Dobson Lock and the Boaters Facilities building, heading towards Esholt.
A laminated sign on a post next to this barrier - which is adorned with the Canal & River Trust logo - states it is an "advance notice of towpath closure" and indicates both sections of the route would be closed between February 28 and August 19.
But a sign attached to the barrier - adorned with the logo of construction and infrastructure company, Kier Group - states they would be closed from March 22 until August 31.
The T&A visited the towpath on Tuesday lunchtime, accessing it by the swing bridge on Apperley Road and heading towards Dobson Lock.
A cyclist was heading back towards the road and warned our reporter, Brad Deas, that the way was blocked.
But it was possible to slip by the metal barrier, on just under a metre of grass verge next to it and there was horse manure present slightly beyond the fence.
Two women wandered towards the barrier with their dog, while our reporter was there, and were seemingly unaware of the closure.
They told our reporter they walk the route occasionally and then turned back to head the other way.
The project is being brought together in partnership with Bradford Council and the Canal & River Trust.
It builds upon previous upgrades which were implemented on neighbouring sections of the towpath back in 2018.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel