THE COST of the New Line/Harrogate Road junction improvement scheme in Greengates has risen by £2.7 million or 30% to £11.4m and the start date has been pushed back to February 2020.

The new figure has come in a report to Bradford Council’s Regeneration and Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee to be held on Tuesday, July 9.

The £11.427m bill for the project is made of funding of £6.7m from the Combined Authority, £1.9 of Section 106 funding from developers and £2.7m from the Council’s capital fund.

The overall figure includes risk, contingency and inflation funding of about £1m.

According to the report “construction of the main scheme is currently anticipated to commence in February 2020, with an anticipated construction duration of between 12 and 15 months”.

Previously the scheme was estimated to cost £8.7m with the start date expected this November.

READ MORE: Compulsory Purchase Order submitted for junction

The improvement works being put forward to the major commuter route are intended to reduce congestion and offer improved and safer provision for pedestrians and cyclists.

To facilitate this, a number of changes to the road layout are proposed, including the widening of both Harrogate Road and New Line on all four sections of the cross roads. In addition, new cycling lanes and pedestrian islands with signal controlled crossings are proposed.

The plans were approved by the Transport Secretary Chris Grayling in January while last November objections to compulsory purchase orders needed to buy the land needed were withdrawn, allowing the CPOs to go through.

As part of the scheme, the Council has secured demolition orders for 911 and 913-915 Harrogate Road to create a new entrance for the Farm Food store.

The report says the crossroads are a significant congestion pinch point with delays on all four legs and it has a detrimental impact on journeys times between Bradford and the Airport, and also between Shipley/Airedale and Leeds.

As part of the works there will be substantial widening of the existing highway on all four arms of the junction; replacement and upgrading of the junction traffic signals; installation of a ‘P-Loop Junction’, a new length of highway that would facilitate left and right vehicle turning manoeuvres from Harrogate Road; improvements to facilities for pedestrians including the provision of; pedestrian controlled crossings and central pedestrian islands; improvements to facilities for cyclists including the introduction of cycle lanes and advance stop lines at traffic signals.

The scheme aims to relieve congestion by reducing the journey times by 20% and 31% in the morning and evening peak respectively by 2026 and reduce nitrogen dioxide concentration levels by 10% in the operational year and achieve legal compliance objective of 40 micrograms/m3 in the long term.

Introduction of dedicated cycle facilities will assist in encouraging greater use of cycling by providing a safe route for cyclists.

In addition, as part of the Core Strategy, there are long term growth aspirations for housing development in the area, modelling of the junction has taken this expected growth into consideration.

The monetised benefits of reducing CO2 emissions have been calculated as £1.113m.

According to the report, the intention is to start the procurement process in August 2019, with a view that tenders will have been returned and evaluated to facilitate a Combined Authority review in December 2019.

A Bradford Council spokesperson, said: “The New Line and Harrogate Road junction improvements project will reduce congestion and journey times, improve air quality and increase road safety.

“It will also make the surrounding areas more attractive and easier for pedestrians and cyclists.

“The scheme will support growth in jobs, businesses and housing developments in the immediate area and wider district.

“The Council and our partners have revised the completion date of the project to reduce levels of disruption during the Christmas period.

“We now have a clearer idea of the costs associated with land purchases and utility works and the revised funding now includes inflation, risk and contingency costs.

“The project is part of a broad range of works designed to improve roads across Bradford district.”