£35 million scheme for Bradford road moving to next stage

Kings Road, which runs from Wrose to Bradford city centre, will get over 4km of bus lanes and over 5km of cycle lanes under the major transport scheme – funded by West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA). 

The work, due to start in 2026, will also see 10 new pedestrian crossings and improvements to 21 bus stops.

An underpass under Botany Avenue will be upgraded and the work will create 1,700 sqm of new public green space.

The underpass that will be improved as part of the highways scheme (Image: T&A)

Speed limits will be reduced on some stretches of the road, which meets the city centre at Canal Road.

A report into the works says the existing road is often heavily congested, and this “presents challenges to bus service journey times and reliability". 

The scheme was included in the West Yorkshire City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement – an £830 million pot of cash awarded to the region by Government in 2022 to boost public transport and active travel in areas across West Yorkshire.

Last week WYCA released £3.5m of funding for the development of a business case for the project.

A report that went before the Authority gave an update on the scheme, saying work was likely to begin in February 2026 and be completed by March 2027.

The report says: “The Kings Road corridor is a key traffic route into Bradford city centre, which currently experiences high congestion, impacting bus service journey times and reliability.

Kings Road (Image: T&A)

“The current bus stop facilities also require improvement, as does the provision for pedestrians and cyclists.

“The scheme will deliver a series of interventions to address transport challenges and encourage local trips to be made by bus, walking, or cycling.

"This will include new bus lanes and bus priority measures at junctions, improvements to bus stop waiting facilities such as shelters, seating, real time information and route finding. The scheme will also include new cycle lanes, improvements to pavements and new crossing points, as well as reducing the speed limit to improve safety and reduce risk of casualties.

“The scheme will better connect low-income residential areas in northeast Bradford who typically have low car ownership with the economic opportunities and investment that is occurring in Bradford city centre and surrounding areas," the report adds.

“This will enhance access to employment, education, training, retail, and housing sites by bus, walking, and bike.”

The work will also see the creation of a CYCLOPS junction – a Dutch style signalised cycling junction enhancement.