WORK to improve a busy Bradford junction will finally begin next month, years after it was first announced.

Highway works around Great Horton Road, Horton Grange Road and Horton Park Avenue were proposed in 2019.

The work would include a new link road between All Saints Road and Horton Park Avenue – next to Horton Park Health Centre.

Bradford Council has now announced that the work will start in late February, is expected to cost £2.9 million and last for 12 months.

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Proposed by the Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority, it is hoped the work will improve traffic flow on one of the city’s busiest junctions.

The Council says the work will “cut journey times, enhance road safety, improve local air quality and make the area more attractive.”

The new scheme includes measures to encourage sustainable transport such as walking and cycling.

The new works will include:

  • a new link road between All Saints Road and Horton Park Avenue with a new roundabout at the Horton Park Avenue junction to reduce traffic on Great Horton Road
  • a one-way system through Turner Place, Noble Street and Durkhill Street to address school parking concerns
  • traffic calming and a 20mph speed limit on Dirkhill Road to reduce speeding
  • new traffic signals at the junction of Great Horton Road and Horton Park Avenue
  • relocated pedestrian crossing on Great Horton Road
  • new central refuges to improve pedestrian crossing facilities
  • a shared cycleway and footway on a section of Horton Park Avenue
  • extensive landscaping with trees planted along Horton Park Avenue and the new link road
  • improvements to the public car park on Horton Park Avenue including cycle parking provision

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “These significant upgrades are part of a much wider strategic programme to improve the district’s roads, reduce journey times, enhance safety and improve air quality.

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“Through this work we can address other local issues like speeding cars, school parking issues and fly-tipping, so the benefits go much further than a standard highways scheme and will be felt by the whole community.”

Deputy Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee Cllr Peter Carlill said: “In this scheme, we have plans that will not only make two busy road junctions safer but will also improve air quality for people living nearby.

“We are pleased that this project also prioritises pedestrians and cyclists, as we want to get people out of their cars and pursuing healthier and greener ways of getting around.”

Councillor Shakeela Lal (Labour, City ward), said: “I’m really pleased to see these works starting as they’ll bring a big benefit to our community. We’ve worked closely with officers to raise issues of local concern such as speeding and fly-tipping and I’m pleased to see so many things included that will help deal with them. The improved green space is much needed for a built-up community like ours and I’m sure it’ll be well used by local residents.”