Months of rush-hour commuter misery nears end

Council chiefs said the major project, which has taken around ten months, will improve transport links in and out of the Northern Quarter of the city centre. However, the long-running works have attracted criticism for the delays that some motorists have faced, especially in the rush- hour.

Yesterday a spokeswoman for Wakefield Council said the final stage of highways works of the North Wakefield Gateway were in sight and scheduled to be complete by June 22.

The work is being done as part of the redevelopment of the area which is seeing roads re-routed to help cater for increased levels of traffic from recent city centre regeneration. It has seen a road, next to County Hall, closed to general traffic to create a pedestrian square.

The redesign of Castrop Rauxel Square, where a statue of Queen Victoria stands, has now been finished, along with work to extend Coronation Gardens which include the city’s war memorial.

The work has meant that traffic and pedestrian diversions have been needed to be put in place.

The scheme has cost £4m, which was funded from West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan.

Coun Denise Jeffery, the council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for regeneration, said: “We are sorry for the disruption to traffic and pedestrians during these roadworks, but the end is now in sight and I’m sure people will agree that the disruption has been worth it for the long-term benefits for Wakefield.

“The main changes we are making are improved routes, specially for buses, cyclists and pedestrians. But the scheme has also given us the opportunity to create a wonderful, big public space opposite and around County Hall, dramatically changing the setting of this listed public building.

“Along with Trinity Walk and Merchant Gate, North Wakefield Gateway is part of the major regeneration of the city centre. Our next major target will be the re-development of the Kirkgate area.”

The public space outside County Hall will be officially opened in September.

Last year Wakefield Council acquired Crown House, with demolition of the building seen as key to linking the city centre, the new Hepworth museum and the waterfront.

Work on the refurbishment of Kirkgate’s station building is also expected to start in the autumn.

In her report to a full council meeting in April, Coun Jeffery said: “The Kirkgate masterplan is progressing well, with Highways developing options for traffic modelling and designs for pedestrian routes.

“Land and property information is being gathered to inform the plan.”

The major North Wakefield Gateway works have see the introduction of bus priority measures, upgraded junctions, new pedestrian crossings and improvements to the area around County Hall, a grade I listed building, which was built in the late 1800s.

The County Hall area includes the top end of Wood Street, Coronation Gardens, Castrop Rauxel Square and the cleared area between County Hall and Bell Street. These areas lie within a conservation area and are surrounded by a number of important listed buildings.

In spite of the downturn work has carried on a number of regeneration projects in Wakefield including the opening of the Trinity Walk Shopping Centre and The Hepworth Wakefield museum. Last year it was announced that cash was in place to rebuild Wakefield Westgate station and the Merchant Gate development has transformed land close to the railway station.

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