ONE of Bradford’s major routes is set to be hit by roadworks as part of a huge £30 million plan to upgrade the city’s power network.
As part of the three-year project, 43km of underground cabling will be replaced between October this year and the end of 2022. The work will focus on replacing five of the circuits that supply electricity to around two thirds of Bradford’s homes and businesses.
The company says this will ensure the electricity network will be capable of meeting the existing demand for power - as well as any future increase in demand as the population grows and more people make the switch to electric cars.
The first phase of the work - running along Old Allen Road, Allerton, to Allerton Road, Cote Lane, Allerton Lane, Bracewell Avenue then down Bell Dean Road, on to Thornton Road to its junction with Cemetery Road, then along Duncombe Road - will fire up in October and finish in winter 2020.
This will involve excavating in the road or footpath on this route in order to upgrade two underground electricity circuits between substations in Thornton and Girlington.
Northern Powergrid has warned the work “will inevitably cause some disruption to local motorists, residents and businesses”.
This is likely to hit particularly hard in the Thornton Road and Cemetery Road area, which is often plagued by traffic tailbacks and congestion.
It’s one of the major thoroughfares into Bradford and obviously it’s laden with businesses, schools, commuter traffic - you name it. It’s not just the queuing on Thornton Road, but it spreads like wildfire to every road around it" - David Heseltine, local business director
The Bell Dean Road to Cemetery Road stretch of the route includes a number of businesses, plus care homes and Fairweather Green Fire Station.
David Heseltine, a director at Norman Haynes - Print Finishing Systems & Solutions, Thornton Road, has raised concern about the potential impact.
He said: “It’s one of the major thoroughfares into Bradford and obviously it’s laden with businesses, schools, commuter traffic - you name it.
“It’s not just the queuing on Thornton Road, but it spreads like wildfire to every road around it.”
Mr Heseltine, who is also a Bradford councillor for Bingley, said work needs to be done to reduce the impact, as it could cause difficulties getting customers in and out, plus delays for staff and supplies.
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“The slightest issue on Thornton Road or Cemetery Road or any roads will have a major knock-on effect.”
Darvill’s Pets & Gardens has stood at the top of Cemetery Road for decades and news of the work has been met with fear about what it could bring.
Christine Darvill, one of the directors, said: “I’m just hoping they don’t have to dig directly outside the shop and prevent people from parking. It’s a very busy road. Any hold up on Cemetery Road will cause big delays and it will just be horrendous - I’m dreading it.”
She added: “If they [customers] can’t get there and they can’t park - that’s going to be devastating for our business.
“I’m just worried about the impact because not only is that starting, but they are also going to do the road widening, which is a big worry.”
We also recognise the potential impact that these works can have on people’s everyday lives so our team is actively working with Bradford Council, and local councillors, to ensure people know what’s happening, why it’s important for their community and what we’re doing to minimise the impact wherever we can" - Steve McDonald, Northern Powergrid
A number of information events are due to be held in the coming weeks for anyone wanting to find out more about how the work might impact them.
The second phase, from 2020, will involve roadworks in Thornton, Wilsden, Sandy Lane, Heaton, Manningham and Bradford city centre, but the route is yet to be confirmed.
Steve McDonald, Northern Powergrid’s General Manager for the West Yorkshire Region, said: “We understand how important a safe and reliable power network is in supporting the local community and businesses and that’s why we’re investing to further improve our network in Bradford.
"These new electricity circuits will help meet potential future increases in the demand for power and the anticipated increased use of electrical vehicles across the city over the coming decades.
"We also recognise the potential impact that these works can have on people’s everyday lives so our team is actively working with Bradford Council, and local councillors, to ensure people know what’s happening, why it’s important for their community and what we’re doing to minimise the impact wherever we can.”
Northern Powergrid says it will provide updates as work gets underway.
Information events coming up (drop in between 3.30pm and 7pm)
- Monday, September 9 - St James’ Church Hall, Thornton Road
- Tuesday, September 10 - Café West Healthy Living Centre, Wanstead Avenue, Allerton
- Wednesday, September 11 - Lower Grange Community Centre, Chaffinch Road, Lower Grange
- Friday, September 13 - Clayton Village Hall, Reva Syke Road
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