Bradford: Work to start on next phase of city centre project

A visualisation of how Bridge Street will look after the development

Work to create new pedestrian routes and green spaces in the heart of Bradford is set to begin later this month.

The changes are part of a £43m transport scheme taking place in the city ahead of it becoming UK City of Culture in 2025.

Bradford Council has already been working to reroute bus services around the city centre instead of through it.

The next stage of the project will begin on 14 April, the council said.

A local authority spokesperson thanked people for their patience while the work takes place, saying "disruption is inevitable".

"As we move into the next phase of construction, people will now begin to see this transformation become a reality," they said.

"With traffic free greenspaces being created to make the city centre a safer, easier and more pleasant please for people to spend time and to get around on foot or by bike.

"While these works are taking place, disruption to both drivers and pedestrians is inevitable, but we can assure people that this is monitored daily, and every effort is being made to minimise disruption wherever possible."

The next stage of the work will include pedestrianising Bank Street, Market Street, Hall Ings and parts of Bridge Street and Little Horton Lane.

More buses will be rerouted and traffic cones and barriers will be removed from the completed works just outside the city centre.

There will also be changes to taxi ranks and disabled parking spaces.

The council said work was almost complete on the first part of the scheme, which involved changing the bus services on Croft Street, Jacobs Well, Prince's Way, Godwin Street, Lower Kirkgate, Church Bank, Well Street and Vicar Lane.

A new timetable for the new bus routes will be available from Sunday 14 April on the West Yorkshire Metro website.