BUSINESSES on the route of a controversial new cycle path are being invited to a drop-in meeting to discuss the works.

Work began on the £3.1m segregated cycle path between Shipley and central Bradford in November.

The 2.3km route, called the Canal Road Corridor Cycleway or CityConnect2, is set to be finished this summer.

It is intended to link the Bradford-to-Leeds Cycle Superhighway, which opened in 2016, to the Canal Road Greenway, which leads to Shipley.

The project has been largely funded by the Department for Transport’s Cycle City Ambition Grant and a contribution from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

It is being delivered by the CityConnect team, which was also behind the Cycle Superhighway.

Now the CityConnect team is inviting businesses along the route to a public event to discuss how the project is going so far.

They will be able to see the plans, speak with designers, and get an update on progress of the works.

Councillor Eric Firth, of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, said: “Cycling will only become a viable mode of transport if we build in to our transport system, and we have shown our commitment to making this happen through investment in high-quality cycling infrastructure across the region.

“The Canal Road Cycle Way scheme in Bradford will open up cycling to a new audience, and CityConnect offer a wide range of support to help organisations get more of their staff travelling by bike.”

The drop-in event will run from 1pm to 6pm on Monday at Bradford’s City Hall.

The contractor, P Casey (Land Reclamation) Ltd, will explain how the construction work could affect businesses or their employees.

And the CityConnect team will be providing more information about their ambition to increase cycling rates across the region, as well as the offers available to help employers and commuters take up cycling and walking.

This includes grant funding to help businesses to become more bike-friendly and free cycle training and bike maintenance classes for commuters.

The two-way route runs from the city centre alongside Valley Road, passing the Forster Square retail park and Forster Square station, into Hillam Road.

The signalling at major junctions Hamm Strasse and Queen’s Road will be modified to include dedicated cycle crossings.

The route crosses a number of roads and private accesses, and minor side roads will be modified to give cyclists the right of way over other traffic.

Some firms along the route opposed the plans, saying the traffic restrictions would hit them hard.

After Bradford Council’s Executive approved the plans in September, some businesses said they were considering taking the matter to court by seeking a judicial review of the decision or by teaming up to lodge a class action for compensation.