Push to end traffic gridlock at Bradford's congestion hotspots

A Department of Transport survey shows the average speed of traffic on A roads in the morning rush hour is now only 20.45mph.

But the three worst roads in the morning rush hour have been identified as the A6181 southbound in Westgate, Bradford; the A567 westbound between Greengates and Shipley, and the A6035 through Keighley town centre, where traffic speeds drop to about 12mph at peak times.

Plans are under dicussion to try to improve the situation in Keighley by introducing a one-way system and junction improvements are being drawn up for Greenagtes but as yet no firm proposals are in place to deal with Westgate.

Councillor Val Slater, Bradford Council’s executive member for housing, planning and transport, said: "It's very important that we improve the situation in these three areas.

"Particularly when you are looking at the Greengates area and more housing developments are happening down that road.

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"For businesses, it's important that we don't get gridlocked.

"It should improve the situation dramatically.

"Westgate is a more difficult one. There is further work to be done on that one.

"We acknowledge that there are traffic issues in the Bradford district but we are taking major steps to alleviate the worst congestion.

"Once these various road schemes are complete I think there will be a marked improvement in traffic flow through the district for both public and private vehicles.

"Not only will journey times be reduced, which brings significant economic benefits to the district, but there will be subsequent improvement in air quality.

"Tong Street in Bradford was not identified in the Government's report but is also an issue."

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Mike Cartwright, chairman of the Bradford Chamber of Commerce, said traffic congestion in the city centre in particular harmed businesses.

He said: “Traffic congestion and poor connectivity is one of the most frequently raised concerns of Bradford businesses in recent years.

"They are desperate for things to improve.

"We welcome the investment and the three hotspots mentioned are indeed major problem areas but it will take a lot more than what’s proposed here to appease most road-users.

"It’s good that there is a will to tackle the congestion but it all costs money, of course, and budgets are being cut at present.”

Simon Cooke, deputy leader of the Conservative group, said: "I think Shipley in general is the worst for traffic.

"We need the plans for the Shipley Eastern Relief road to move up the agenda now. It would take the pressure off the traffic.

"The three areas identified in the district are the ones I look to avoid at certain times of the day due to the traffic."

Liberal Democrats group leader, Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, who represents the Idle and Thackley ward, said: "Clearly we have got to tackle traffic congestion because of the health implications of congested roads. Carbon emissions is a huge problem.

"The Council needs to do something about it.

"The plans to improve the junction in Greengates will only improve 60 per cent of the current traffic. It has needed to be improved for the last 20 years.

"My concern is that it won't improve traffic congestion for the next 20 years."

Councillor Martin Love, leader of the Green Party on the Council, said: “We need to look at the choices people make on how they get around.

“We can deal with congestion by getting people out of their cars and on to public transport.

“At the usual times of the day, at both ends of Greengates, the traffic is extremely bad.

“School accounts for a massive amount of traffic on our roads at rush hour.”

Traffic proposals for Westgate will be completed under the Bradford City Centre Area Action Plan, being prepared by the Council as part of the Local Plan for Bradford, which will guide the transformation of the city centre regeneration area up to 2028.

In Greengates, long-awaited improvements to a congested junction moved a step forward last month when the Council's executive agreed to start acquiring the land needed to widen the junction of Harrogate Road and New Line. The work will be funded by the West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund.

Funding has already been approved for the £1.4 million one-way loop encompassing East Parade, Hanover Street and Cavendish Street in Keighley.

Bradford Council plans to begin public consultation next month on the proposed one-way system, with work due to go ahead in a first half of 2016.

The clockwise route will feature synchronised traffic signals, new pedestrian crossings, a 20mph speed limit and new parking layouts in Cavendish Street and Hanover Street.