The worst roads for delays and traffic in Bradford district

Analysis using figures from the Department for Transport show the average delay on A roads across the Bradford district.

The number used represents Seconds Per Vehicle Mile (spvm), representing how many seconds a vehicle is held up for each mile travelled.

There was a significant rise in delays in some parts of Bradford.

This data does not include other types of roads, including motorways.

The most congested A-roads in Bradford

Traffic queues in the city centre due to the Transforming Cities Fund works (Image: T&A)

1. A6181

The A6181, which forms most of the Bradford Central Ring Road, faced one of the biggest increases as the city centre undergoes a major transformation project.

In 2023, an average of 180.7 spvm was recorded - marking a 73 spvm rise since 2019.

2. A6035

The A6035 through Keighley had the second highest spvm in the data for 2023. 

While the figures remain high, it has dropped from an average 122.2 spvm in 2019 to 116.7 spvm.

3. A647

An average 92 spvm was recorded on the Bradford Council-owned section of the A647 - a 17-mile-long route that begins in Leeds and ends in Halifax.

It represented a slight rise from 91.4 spvm in 2019.

4. A657 

A measurement of 88.1 spvm was recorded along the Bradford Council-owned section of the A657 - which begins in Bramley and ends in Saltaire near Shipley. - in 2023.

It marked a small rise from 86.6 spvm in 2019.

5. A6177

The A6177, which forms the Bradford Outer Ring Road, had an average speed of 87 spvm.

The road has undergone a number of changes and roadworks in recent years, months and weeks.

It marked a rise from 81.1 spvm in 2019.

6. A658

The A658 - a lengthy route which starts near Bradford Cathedral and extends past Leeds Bradford Airport towards Knaresborough - falls in sixth place.

The Bradford-Council-owned section reported 67.4 spvm in 2023, compared to 66.8 spvm in 2019.

7. A641 

An average of 56.4 spvm was recorded on the A641 - the route between Bradford, Brighouse, and Kirklees.

The A641 is also undergoing a number of works.

Proposals include new crossings, road widening schemes, on-road cycle routes, new bus lanes, changes to junctions, and much more.

8. A6176

An average speed of 56.1 spvm was recorded along the A6176, a short A-road to the north of Bradford city centre.

This dropped from 58.1 spvm in 2019.

9. A644

Data showed 50.4 spvm was recorded along the A644 - which encapsulates Keelham, Queensbury, Hipperholme, Brighouse, Mirfield and Dewsbury, - in 2023. 

This marked a rise from 46.3 spvm in 2019.

10. A6037

The A6037 - which runs through the north of Bradford, Frizinghall, and Shipley - had an average spvm of 49.6. 

It marked a slight rise from 49.1 spvm.

11. A6038

Between 2019 and 2023, there was a rise from 37.3 spvm to 45.8 spvm along the A6038, which covers Ilkley Moor, Airedale and Wharfedale.

12. A650

There was a slight drop in delays along the A650 from 47.7 spvm to 45.2 spvm.

The Bradford-Council-owned section of the A650 - which runs through a large part of West Yorkshire – includes places like Keighley, Bradford, Shipley, and Birkenshaw.

13. A6033

The data showed an average 44.6 svpm was recorded along the A6033 in 2023.

The Bradford Council-owned section of the route had seen less congestion from previous figures in 2019.

In 2019, 48.6 spvm had been recorded.

14. A58 

An average of 42.7 svpm was recorded along the Bradford Council-owned section of the A58.

It marked a decrease from 43.8 svpm in 2019.

15. A6036

The A6036 - which includes Staygate Roundabout in Bradford, Odsal, Shelf and towards Calderdale - saw an average 42 svpm in 2023.

It was a steep drop from 48.9 svpm in 2019.

16. A6034

An average of 36.1 svpm was recorded along the A6034, which crosses Rombalds Moor between Airedale and Wharfdale.

It marked an increase of 6.7 svpm since 2019.

17. A65

An average of 32 svpm was recorded along the Bradford Council-owned section of the A65 in 2023.

It marked a rise from 28.7 svpm in 2019.

The long route runs north west from Leeds via Kirkstall, Horsforth, Yeadon, Guiseley, Ilkley and Skipton, west of Settle, Ingleton and Kirkby Lonsdale, before terminating at Kendal in Cumbria.

18. A629

There was an average 24.1 svpm recorded along the A629,  a large stretch of road which runs from Skipton to Rotherham through Keighley, Halifax, Huddersfield and Chapeltown.

This compares to 28 svpm in 2019.