Bridges and roads to get makeover

The money is the borough’s share of a Government handout to the five West Yorkshire authorities under the Local Transport Plan.

Over £1m has been allocated by highways bosses for the maintenance and strengthening of highway structures over 2012/13. Godley Bridge, near to Shibden Park, is to be painted at a cost of £250,000 while Copley footbridge is also to be painted and undergo steelwork repairs resulting in a bill of £150,000.

Parapet repairs to Hebble Viaduct in Halifax will cost another £40,000 while the waterproofing of Gibbet Street Bridge in Halifax will cost another £70,000.

Coun Barry Collins, Cabinet member for Economy and Environment, said: “Godley Bridge is interesting. On the face of it it seems like an expensive scheme. But in fact it is an important piece of Halifax’s industrial heritage as well as an important service bridge in its own right.

“We have to do the job properly and strip it down.” Elsewhere more than £2.6m is to be spent on the maintenance of carriageways and street lighting.