A CYCLE link between Shipley and Bradford will not now be completed until Spring - months after its originally announced completion date.

However, a local cycling group told the Telegraph & Argus they felt the works would be worth the wait.

The £3.1 million project to link Shipley to the Bradford/Leeds City Connect cycle route began in November 2017.

The 2.3km, segregated route runs from Canal Road to the city centre, and will link with existing off road cycle routes that lead to Shipley town centre.

It runs down Hillam Road, Bolton Lane and then Valley Road, past Forster Square Retail Park and then to Church Bank, where it links with the existing Bradford to Leeds cycle way.

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

When work started it was said the route would open by last summer. But in October a report to West Yorkshire Combined Authority said the work would be completed by November. But that end date has now been pushed back to Spring.

In recent weeks there appears to have been little work done on the route, with traffic cones and barriers scattered along its stretch.

The route will be discussed by Bradford Council’s Regeneration and Environment Scrutiny Committee tonight, along with other transport projects being carried out by West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

A joint statement from Bradford Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority said: “The new 2.3km segregated cycle route between Bradford Forster Square and along the Canal Road / Valley Road corridor will link to the existing Canal Road Greenway, connecting people travelling by bike between Shipley and the city centre with employment, training and leisure opportunities.

“There have been some minor delays to the project, which isn’t uncommon for projects of this nature. The scheme is due to be completed in spring 2019.

“We know encouraging more of us to travel by bike or on foot not only boosts people’s health and saves individual’s money, it also brings wider environmental and economic benefits, which is why we want to make cycling and walking a natural choice for short, everyday journeys.”

David Robison, from the Bradford Cycling Campaign, said:”It would be nice to have the facility there as soon as possible, but I think once it is open it will be well used. It will be worth it, it is going to be great.

“I hope people go cycling on it with their kids, it is a key indicator that a cyclist feels safe on the route if they take their eight year old cycling with them.”

He hopes that further links to the Leeds/Liverpool Canal could be added to the cycle route.