Bus lane and greenway improvements as part of £12.8m scheme

The A638 Dewsbury/Cleckheaton Sustainable Travel Corridor has been designed to improve traffic between Bradford and Dewsbury, and work on the £12.8m project is expected to begin in December.

At a meeting of West Yorkshire Combined Authority on Wednesday, members will be asked to move the scheme to the next stage.

Spen Valley Greenway

A report to the Finance, Resources and Corporate Committee says the work will “support walking, cycling and bus travel and will encourage a reduction in private car travel.”

On the Bradford side of the scheme, the work will create a new 700 metre bus lane on the southbound approach of M62 Chain Bar roundabout, and four pedestrian crossing islands on Bradford Road, between Chain Bar Road and John William Street.

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The popular Spen Valley Greenway cycling and walking route will get a major upgrade, including 8.5km of widening and resurfacing work to the Greenway and 13 access improvements between the Greenway and A638.

There will also be seven access improvements between the Spen Ringway and A638 and new and improved lighting along the Spen Valley Greenway.

The approach to Chain Bar - which will get a new bus lane.

Other work will include the creation of a 2.1km cycle lane between Cleckheaton and Heckmondwike town centres, six new signalised pedestrian crossings, six new or upgraded signal-controlled junctions and 0.2km of footway widening outside Heckmondwike Grammar School.

Six bus stops along the route will be upgraded, and a number of “pocket parks” will be created.

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The report says the work is expected to be completed by Summer 2024.

It adds: “The A638 comprises a key route for the district, as it provides a strategic East/West link between Dewsbury and Bradford, as well as facilitating onward connectivity across the wider region via the M62 Chain Bar interchange.

“High traffic volumes on the A638 Dewsbury – Cleckheaton corridor, due to increased reliance on car travel and lack of viable travel alternatives, cause congestion issues contributing to poor local air quality and increased transport related carbon emissions.

“Although many bus services travel along or across the A638, there are only two small sections of bus lanes and limited bus priority along the route. Long queues and significant delays are experienced by bus users during peak periods on the southbound approach to Chain Bar roundabout.

“Current on-road cycling provision is limited to advisory cycle lanes of approximately one kilometre in length to the south of Cleckheaton.”