Improvements costing nearly £1 million are to be carried out on one of Cleckheaton's busiest roads.

The scheme for the A638 Bradford Road includes improving the footpaths with flag and block paving on the stretch between Horncastle and the bus station.

And the street lights near the bus station and the town hall will be upgraded in response to complaints from residents about the areas being dimly lit at night.

The total scheme costs £910,000, with the first phase, costing £875,000, being carried out this year and the second phase next year.

Highways chiefs at Kirklees Council say roads will have to be closed when work starts but most of the repairs will take place at weekends and/or at night.

Highways officer Graham Mallory said: "Generally, the works will be undertaken with restrictions on the work allowed during peak traffic periods.

"The A638 is one of the primary routes from Dewsbury to Bradford and the M62 and M606.''

He said residents, businesses, the emergency services and the Highways Agency, which maintains the motorways, would be consulted before work started.

Work is also to start this year on a £550,000 scheme to repair Bradford Road in Dewsbury which links both the town and Batley to Bradford.

There are a number of businesses along the route and Mr Mallory said access to these would be maintained while work was taking place.

Traffic will be down to one lane, with temporary traffic lights in operation, but this will be restricted to outside the rush hour.

And any work near permanent traffic lights will be carried out on Sundays to prevent traffic chaos.

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