Council to decide on £1m road repair schemes

Senior members of Kirklees Council will be asked to dig into council coffers to pay for repairs plans in two areas.

Such work would reduce a current backlog in maintenance.

The proposals, to be debated by the council’s cabinet committee tomorrow, would see the reconstruction of 1.6km of the A629 Penistone Road and 1.67km of the A629 Wakefield Road in the Dalton area of Huddersfield.

A report prepared for councillors warns: “The current backlog of A road repairs is around 15km.”

Council managers argue that supporting these two schemes would reduce the maintenance build-up and improve local journeys.

The work will include resurfacing and lowering kerbs for pedestrians.

Kirklees is by no means alone in facing a road maintenance backlog.

Earlier this year the Yorkshire Post revealed more than £700m was needed to repair Yorkshire’s crumbling road network.

Freedom of Information requests to the region’s councils found that vast swathes of Yorkshire’s 20,000-mile road network were in poor overall condition and required maintenance within a year.

Local Transport Minister Norman Baker said the that the Government had allocated significant funds to Yorkshire authorities to deal with potholes.

“Despite the current severe fiscal restraints we are providing £3bn to English authorities for road maintenance between 2011 and 2015 – which includes £307m to authorities in Yorkshire, ” he said.

Kirklees Council officers say the two sets of repairs would cost just over £1m.

The work on the A629 would be between Fenay Lane and Ashford Manor.

The report says: “The A629 Penistone Road is an important route serving local communities and those travelling from further afield.

“These works will cause significant problems for residents and local businesses, however, officers will be in discussions with local councillors about the proposed improvements and how delay and disruption can be minimised where possible.”

It adds: “The A629 Wakefield Road is a primary route into Huddersfield Town Centre from Sheffield and Wakefield as well as providing an important link to local communities.

“We are aware that this scheme may cause significant difficulties for local businesses, residents and through traffic.”

“This scheme contributes to providing real help for communities by halting the deterioration and reducing the maintenance backlog.

“As a result of this work this road will be removed from our current list of maintenance backlog,” the report adds.

If councillors approve the proposals tomorrow, officers will then begin consultations with councillors, local businesses and residents to consider how to keep local disruption to a minimum.

The report does not however say when the work would be done or how long the disruption would last.

Earlier this month, the Kirklees cabinet approved essential strengthening work on Milns Bridge in Huddersfield.

Last week, officials revealed that this would start early in August and last about 14 weeks.

Contractors will increase the load capacity of the 120-year old bridge so that it meets national standards and can carry 40 tonnes safely.

The bridge will be closed for two weekends when diversions will be in place for traffic along Manchester Road.