MAP: All the cycle lanes and pedestrianisation changing Bradford's roads

The travel schemes – introduced by West Yorkshire Combined Authority – are hoped to boost people’s health and enhance air quality.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority, made up of five local councils, including Bradford, has set a target for the region to be “net zero” carbon by 2038.

As part of get, it aims to reduce car travel by 21 per cent. This would be achieved by increasing walking by 78 per cent, increasing rail travel by 53 per cent, increasing bus travel by 39 per cent and increasing cycle journeys by 2,000 per cent.

It comes amid the creation of an “active travel neighbourhood” in Saltaire and the introduction of the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) – a Government-mandated project run by Bradford Council.

Let’s take a look at how the city’s roads are set to change under new – and sometimes controversial – plans for cycle lanes, traffic-free zones and the park and ride system.

Map of changes - click the red markers to see photos and descriptions

Transforming Cities Fund

The Transforming Cities Fund will see tens of millions spent on projects ranging from the pedestrianisation of Hall Ings to the creation of a new park and ride.

How the pedestrianisation of Hall Ings is expected to look (Image: Bradford Council)

The four schemes that make up the Transforming Cities Fund are:

• the Bradford City Centre Walking and Cycling improvements, which includes the pedestrianisation of Hall Ings and streets like Market Street,
• the South Bradford Park and Ride and Expressway,
• the creation of a new entrance to Bradford Interchange and
• the West Bradford Cycle Superhighway – a segregated cycleway between the city centre and Thornton.

The work will see the pedestrianisation of Hall Ings from Jacobs Well to Bank Street, Bridge Street from Drake Street to Tyrel Street/Aldermanbury, plus Market Street, Bank Street and Broadway.

Norfolk Gardens will be extended over what is now Hall Ings, and the NCP car park demolished to create a new entrance to Bradford Interchange.

The Jacob’s Well roundabout will be replaced by a “super crossing” and Little Horton Lane will be blocked off at the end nearest the cenotaph to create a crossing free route between the Media Museum, Alhambra and Bradford Live.

Part of the road will be replaced by a new 'pocket park' under the plans, potentially between the Media Museum and the city centre war memorials. 

Previously, a spokesperson for West Yorkshire Combined Authority said: “The proposals for Little Horton Lane would create a more pleasant and open space, allowing people to get around the cultural quarter more easily while walking, riding a bike or taking public transport.”

An artist's impression of how a pedestrianised Market Street would look (Image: Bradford Council)

• Read more: See how Bradford city centre is going to change in the next five years

How much will it all cost? 

Work on schemes for the Transforming Cities Fund is due to begin before the end of 2022, but a new report has revealed that two of the four projects will be scaled back until new funding streams become available.

The Transforming Cities Fund was a multi-million-pound pot of cash given by Government to West Yorkshire as part of the local devolution deal.

Bradford will get an £80million share of the funding for the four schemes.

A mix of rising costs of materials, inflation and the impact of Brexit has led to rising costs of the schemes.

The report says the City Centre Cycling and Walking Proposals, originally funded to the tune of £30million, will now end up costing at least £38.1million.

The Interchange improvements, which include the demolition of the Hall Ings car park and a huge refurbishment of the station, were budgeted to cost £13.2million. The report reveals this has now risen to £16.4million.

The West Bradford Cycle Superhighway was a £17.5m scheme that would see segregated cycling facilities along the Sunbridge Road, City Road and Thornton Road corridor from the city centre to Thornton Village.

The proposed new entrance to Bradford Interchange (Image: Bradford Council)

However, to pay for the other two schemes, the budget for this project will be scaled back to £9.14m.

The South Bradford Park & Ride and Bus Expressway was a £20m project that would see a huge car park created near the M606 junction.

A new bus fleet would ferry passengers from this car park down Manchester Road along dedicated bus lanes. New cycle lanes would also be created on this route.

This scheme will also have its budget cut to pay for the city centre plans, with £15.3m now being allocated to the project.

• Read more: New £50m Odsal plan includes permanent stadium roof, new hotel and solar farm

For all the very latest information on the roads and rails, visit our Traffic and Travel page.

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