THE biggest change to Bradford city centre’s streets in years will enter its next stage from Monday, with work to pedestrianise some of the centre’s busiest roads.
It was almost four years ago when the Government first announced funding for a huge package of schemes to “transform” Bradford city centre.
The Transforming Cities Fund projects include the pedestrianisation of roads including Hall Ings and Market Street and the demolition of the former NCP car park to create a new entrance to Bradford Interchange.
Roadworks in the city centre began last year, but from next week will enter a new stage – with drivers warned that they are likely to be diverted to avoid many of their usual routes through the city.
The work, which will further ramp up in Spring, is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
From Monday, February 19, Hall Ings will be partially closed to vehicle traffic to allow for accelerated works to begin that will eventually see the majority of the road become part of an expanded Norfolk Gardens, creating a new city centre park.
The closure will prevent westbound general traffic travelling from the junction of Hall Ings and Drake Street to Jacobs Well. Eastbound traffic will still be able to use Hall Ings temporarily, ahead of the planned full closure of Hall Ings to all vehicles. Work to create a “public transport loop” around the city centre has been underway for months, and is nearing completion.
Well Street, between Broadway and Little Germany, has been changed from a pedestrian street to a new bus route through these works.
A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “The bulk of work on the second phase of work - to pedestrianise some city centre streets, create new, green landscaped public spaces, and make it easier to walk, cycle and use a wheelchair around the city centre – is due to begin in the spring. At this time, most of the bus routes using the city centre will change routing to use the new public transport loop.
“These initial works on the westbound carriageway of Hall Ings are being brought forward ahead of the rest of the core works to enable the overall city centre project to keep to its schedule of being largely complete ready for the start to 2025 and the beginning of Bradford district’s year as UK City of Culture.”
Next week’s closure will facilitate an early start to some enabling works and allow for the section of Hall Ings between Bridge Street and Jacobs Well to be reserved for construction traffic, and for buses only.
The Council says the work is crucial to reduce vehicle traffic in the vicinity and ensure public safety during the major construction works to come, including the demolition of the former NCP car park.
Traffic will be affected as follows:
• Eastbound Traffic from Jacobs Well to Shipley Airedale Road will remain unaffected until Spring 2024 (Purple Line on map)
• Access will be maintained from Shipley Airedale Road into Little Germany, the Leisure Exchange area and The Broadway Shopping Centre car park at all times. (Green Line on map)
• Bank Street and Broadway will be open to buses, taxis, and local resident and business access only. (Orange Line on map)
• Drake Street will be open to buses, taxis and local access in one direction only from Hall Ings to the Law Courts access road. (Brown Line on map)
• Hall Ings, between Bridge Street and Jacobs Well will be open to buses and construction traffic only – this will be camera enforced. (Red Line on map)
• Westbound through traffic that would normally have used Hall Ings will move to its new permanent route via Shipley Airedale Road, Croft Street and on to Manchester Road/Princes Way.
The changes to road access and traffic management for this closure of Hall Ings will be put in place overnight between Sunday February 18/Monday February 19.
The Council spokesperson added: “Bradford Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority are working in partnership on this £43 million scheme, which is being delivered through the Combined Authority’s Transforming Cities Fund programme.
“The work is aimed at making it easier, safer and more pleasant for people to walk, cycle in the city centre. This is a capital grant transport fund, provided by the Department for Transport and cannot be used for other purposes, such as delivering day to day services or other projects.”
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport said: “Work on the transformation of the city centre, creating new open traffic-free spaces making it safer, easier and more pleasant for people to get around and between the shopping and entertainment areas is progressing well.
“While the scale of construction works means that delays to journeys through the city centre are inevitable, particularly at peak times, the end result will be worth it and will benefit us and future generations for many years to come. I’d like to thank people for their patience while this work takes place.”
For more information on the works visit www.future-bradford.co.uk
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