Transport plan would help poor - report

Wakefield Road is a key route into Bradford city centre

New bus and cycle lanes could be created on one of the main routes into Bradford city centre as part of a £20m scheme to help those on low incomes get about.

On Thursday, West Yorkshire Combined Authority will discuss proposals to create a “sustainable transport corridor” on Wakefield Road and a stretch of Tong Street – both part of the A650.

A report, which will be presented at the meeting, states the scheme would “provide transport to those on low incomes” who live in some of the “most deprived communities in the country”.

The report claimed improved walking and cycling routes were particularly important for people on low incomes who may not have access to a car.

Tong councillor Matt Edwards praised the scheme, which also features new pedestrian crossings, and said more needed to be done to improve access to the city centre.

“It’s good news that the combined authority is moving forward with the plan to improve the A650. This is a really important route into the city,” he said.

The upgrade would include sections of Tong Street

Funding will come from an £830m pot awarded to West Yorkshire Combined Authority in 2022 to tackle congestion and boost public transport, walking and cycling.

However, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service more than £4m of the budget is likely to be spent before construction work begins.

The report said design and planning work to prepare the scheme would cost about £4.3m, which is 21% of the cost of the project.

'Complex traffic management'

It said the cost was “at the higher end of expectation for this stage of scheme development” but this was because the A650, which is an “urban motorway”, would need extensive surveys and complex traffic management.

The Wakefield Road scheme would create 2.7 miles (4.3km) of bus lanes, along with a 1.1 mile-long (1.7km), two-lane cycle path.

If approved, work would start in summer 2026 and be completed by April 2027. A decision to recommend the project is likely to be made on Thursday.

Temporary cycle lanes were installed on Wakefield Road during the Covid pandemic to make it easier to cycle during lockdown.

The lanes were criticised by motorists, who argued they were rarely used and created congestion.

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