A STRETCH of a major Bradford road will be completely closed for nine days while an upgrade of the district's electricity network gets underway.
Part of Thornton Road - on the Fairweather Green side - will be inaccessible between February 15 and 24 next year so the work can be carried out.
It's part of a £30 million project to improve the network's reliability and resilience.Taking place between now and the end of 2022, the work focuses on replacing five of the major circuits that supply electricity to around two thirds of Bradford’s homes and businesses.
Northern Powergrid say the work will ensure that the local electricity network is capable of meeting the existing demand for power - as well as any future increase in demand as the population grows and more households swap their cars for electric ones.
The first phase of the work started in October and is scheduled to run until winter 2020. It focuses on upgrading two major underground electricity circuits that run between Northern Powergrid’s Bradford West substation in Thornton and its Girlington substation with more modern and sustainable alternatives.
The work involves excavating in the road, footpath or grass verge so that new cables can be laid.
Some of the work has been completed and there are some amendments to the planned route:
• Old Allen Road to Back Lane, Thornton - completed in November
• Back Lane to Cote Lane via Allerton Road - completed this month
• Allerton Lane , Allerton - to be completed by December 20.
• Weymouth Avenue, Allerton - January 16 to 20 next year. Excavating in the road with traffic management in place.
• Millennium Green, Allerton - January 21 to February 3, 2020. A new section of the route has been added so Northern Powergrid can avoid working along Bracewell Avenue.
• Bell Dean Road - February 4 to March 12, 2020. Excavating in the road and grass verge with traffic management in place.
• Thornton Road - February 15 to 24 February 2020 (half term). There will be a total road closure from 969 Thornton Road (pictured above) to Vine Terrace West (near Crossley Hall School). A diversion will be in place.
• Thornton Road - March 13 to May 8 2020. Excavating in the road from Vine Terrace West to Four Lane Ends with traffic management in place.
• May 2020 - during May, Northern Powergrid will be moving on to work from Four Lane Ends along Cemetery Road and into Duncombe Road, Girlington. Firm dates for this work will be available in early 2020.
Steve McDonald, Northern Powergrid’s General Manager for the West Yorkshire Region, said some of the work has been completed ahead of schedule and alternative route across Millennium Green will "greatly reduce disruption".
He added: “We’re continuing to work closely with Bradford Council and local transport companies to agree the least impactful routes and times.
"Although closing Thornton Road during February is unavoidable, we have tried to minimise the disruption associated with this by doing the work over the half term week and the weekends immediately before and after.
“We remain committed to keeping everyone up to speed with what we’re doing and when by issuing regular letters and updates via the local media and social media.
"Our teams will continue to be out and about in the areas that will be directly affected delivering letters and leaflets.
"They’ll be talking with residents and businesses about the work we’re doing to improve the network that powers their everyday life and our free Priority Services Register which offers extra support to customers who may be more vulnerable.”
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