GREENGATES Crossroads has officially opened after almost two years.

The newly-improved junction, where New Line and Harrogate Road meet, has undergone a major transformation in the past 22 months.

It is a key route that connects Bradford and Leeds and is used by hundreds of commuters every day.

Traffic there in the modern era has long been an issue and so a plan was put together to help alleviate this.

Bradford Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority joined to create the scheme, which was originally budgeted at £8.7 million, and got underway in July 2020.

That has risen drastically to £13.75 million due to delays brought about by the pandemic and unearthing uncharted pipes.

The roadworks were originally due to be completed by October 2021, but that was pushed back last year to some point this Spring.

It is believed roughly 65 to 70 per cent of the project was boxed off by early November in 2021 and then jumped to 86 per cent in early March, using a piece of software to work this out.

The final stage over the last month or so has been to resurface the main roads and put in new pedestrian crossings and traffic lights.

Anticipation was bubbling after The T&A revealed last week that contractors, Howard Civil Engineering, had announced the junction would finally fully reopen today.

The Telegraph & Argus visited the junction at 1.30pm to see whether that was still on schedule.

Most of the area was open but four-way temporary traffic lights were being used, which led to some congestion in all directions, despite the fact Bradford and Leeds schools are currently on half-term. 

A worker at the scene said he hoped the crossroads would be fully up-and-running that afternoon.

The new P-Loop turning, which will be used as a slip-road for those wanting to head towards Calverley from certain directions, was open in part.

Those heading up from Apperley Bridge and turning left were able to, but cones blocked the right turning lane for those coming from Eccleshill.

A number of workers were spotted fiddling with wiring on the main traffic lights and several tests were ongoing.

A spokesperson for Howard Civil Engineering also assured the T&A that the switch was to be made to permanent traffic lights between 2pm and 3pm.