Beware of more traffic jams, drivers warned

Drivers created mayhem last week by ignoring an access only sign and travelling into Market Street from Cheapside.

The road became a clogged-up mass of cars and buses and police dished out 400 fixed penalty notices to motorists.

Now the appeal for people driving through the centre in next week's changes is to watch the signs and not take any illegal short cuts.

From Monday access to Broadway and Bank Street directly from Bridge Street will end permanently.

Broadway will be closed at its junction with Bridge Street for about two weeks to build a signalcontrolled, block-paved pedestrian crossing.

When the crossing is brought into operation at the end of this month the current one-way traffic flow in Broadway and Bank Street will be reversed.

The limited amount of traffic using the area for access will be able to leave Broadway only via Bridge Street to Sunbridge Road or the Norfolk Gardens link road behind City Hall to Hall Ings or Thornton Road.

The short length of Bridge Street between Broadway and Hall Ings will continue for buses only and this will be enforced by the police.

From Monday permanent access to the Bank Street area will be opened from Hall Ings at its junction with Bank Street opposite the Telegraph & Argus.

Bank Street will become permanently one-way towards the Wool Exchange between Hall Ings and Market Street.

The measures will remove a through route from Sunbridge Road via Broadway to Hall Ings and Leeds Road, reducing heavy traffic.The measures are part of a £350,000 scheme to make the city centre safer for pedestrians and ease pollution.

Chief Inspector Ray Shepherd of Bradford Central Police said officers would work closely with the Council and be on stand-by to give advice about the system.

He said the police had been in talks with the local authority about providing clear signs for the changes.

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