Bradford Road (A652) Improvement Scheme
The Bradford Road (A652) Improvement Scheme is a major transport investment aimed at improving accessibility, journey reliability, road safety and connectivity between Dewsbury and Batley.
Funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority's Transforming Cities Fund programme, the scheme includes improvements for all users of the corridor, including pedestrians, public transport users, cyclists, motorists and local businesses.
The project has progressed through the required business case, funding, governance, design and road safety approval processes and is currently being delivered on site.
Purpose of this work
Bradford Road is a busy transport corridor and experiences significant congestion, delays and accessibility challenges, particularly during peak times.
The scheme has been developed to:
- More reliable journeys along the corridor.
- Improve accessibility for people walking, wheeling and cycling.
- Improve bus services and help buses operate on time.
- Improve road safety.
- Modernise the highway, footways, drainage and street lighting.
- Provide better accessibility to employment, training, education and healthcare.
Improvements being made
- Resurfacing the road.
- Improving footways and streetlighting.
- Installing new drainage.
- New and upgraded pedestrian crossings.
- Better visibility for all road users.
- Making changes to reduce dangerous parking.
- Improving bus stop facilities.
- More reliable bus journeys.
- Better accessibility, making it easier for everyone to use public transport.
- Improving pedestrian routes.
- Making routes more accessible
- Dedicated cycling infrastructure
- Improving links between local communities, shops, services and public transport.
Supporting local businesses
We recognise that construction activity can be disruptive for local businesses. We are working directly with local businesses to minimise disruption wherever possible, while delivering long term improvements.
Activity includes:
- Keeping in regular contact with affected businesses.
- Looking at opportunities to finish sections sooner if possible.
- Planning and prioritising work to reduce disruption.
- Putting access, delivery and parking arrangements in place where needed.
- Modernise the highway, footways, drainage and street lighting.
- Keeping customer and delivery access open wherever it is safe and practical to do so.
While some disruption is unavoidable while the work is ongoing, the completed scheme will make the area easier and safer to get around, with better access, improved crossings, upgraded infrastructure and more reliable transport links.
Loading and deliveries
Maintaining access for businesses, service vehicles and emergency services has been a key part of both the design and delivery of the scheme.
Following feedback from residents and businesses as part of the Traffic Regulation Order consultation process, we made changes to loading restrictions:
- Loading and unloading is still allowed outside peak periods.
- We're working with individual businesses to put alternative delivery and servicing arrangements in place where needed.
- Access for businesses and service vehicles is being maintained wherever possible.
While some disruption is unavoidable while the work is ongoing, the completed scheme will make the area easier and safer to get around, with better access, improved crossings, upgraded infrastructure and more reliable transport links.
Emergency vehicles
Emergency vehicle access will be maintained throughout construction. This is built into the contractor's traffic management plans, and the site is checked regularly to make sure access routes remain clear and any issues are addressed quickly.
Construction and traffic management
Large road improvement schemes can cause temporary disruption, and we understand that this can be frustrating.
Some of the traffic delays being experienced on Bradford Road are linked to the construction works and the temporary traffic management in place to keep road users and workers safe.
To help minimise disruption we are:
- Limiting the use of temporary traffic lights to off-peak times, generally between 9.30am and 3.30pm.
- Regularly reviewing construction activities to minimise the impact on traffic.
- Monitoring traffic throughout the project and making changes where possible to improve traffic flow.
These measures are temporary and will be removed as the scheme nears completion. Regular checks are carried out making sure traffic management is working and to identify and resolve any problems as soon as possible.
Consultation details
Public consultation and stakeholder engagement helped shape the Bradford Road improvement scheme.
Consultation and engagement took place in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
- Initial consultation: 5 October 2021 - 2 November 2021 - Dewsbury-Batley-Chidswell travel corridor consultation 2021
- Based on the feedback, changes to the proposals were made and further engagement was carried out from 29 September 2022 - 27 October 2022 - Dewsbury-Batley-Chidswell travel corridor consultation 2022
- Final consultation took place between 5 September 2023 - 3 October 2023 - Dewsbury-Batley-Chidswell travel corridor consultation 2023
The process:
- Around 1,100 letters were sent to residents, businesses and other affected parties.
- 15 formal responses were received.
- 12 responses led to changes being made to parts of the scheme.
- Loading restrictions were revised in response to concerns raised at the time of consultation.
- No formal objections were received from statutory consultees.
We continue to engage with residents, businesses and stakeholders throughout construction and will provide update as the scheme progresses.
Consultation materials, feedback and reports can be viewed on Your Voice - Dewsbury-Batley-Chidswell Travel Corridor
