Nine month scheme to reduce congestion on major Yorkshire road to begin on Monday

The Westgate Bus Hotspot scheme will see major changes to roads between the former Oastler Market and White Abbey Road.

The £1 million bus hotspot scheme will see new bus lanes, improved pedestrian crossings and new cycling facilities introduced on a stretch of Westgate.

It will also see St Thomas Road closed at its junction with Westgate.

The work is being funded by West Yorkshire Combined Authority, and was given the final sign off by Bradford Council’s Reform-led executive this summer.

Work is expected to be completed in May, and will coincide with the start of work to the City Village housing scheme – the first stage of which will see homes built on sites either side of Westgate.

The works will be delivered in phases with the first work starting at the Westgate junction with Baptist Place.

Further details on timings for each phase and any associated traffic management arrangements will be announced by the Council as they become available.

Bradford Council says the work is aimed at reducing congestion, improving bus journey reliability and enhancing road safety on the busy road.

Westgate is used by several major bus services which currently experience delays at peak times, affecting journey times and service reliability.

The works include

• The installation of camera enforced bus lanes, including an inbound stretch next to Infirmary Fields and both sides of Westgate near the former Oastler Centre.
• Changes to a key junction and traffic signals
• Closure of St Thomas’s Road at its junction with Westgate
• Improved pedestrian crossing facilities
• Better provision for cyclists

Existing access to car parks along the road will remain.

Councillor Andrew Judson, Bradford Council’s executive member for economy, regeneration and planning, said: “Westgate is one of the city centre’s busiest routes and these improvements will help tackle congestion, improve the reliability of bus services and make it safer and easier for people walking and cycling.

“We recognise that construction work causes disruption and we’d like to thank residents, businesses and road users for their patience while these improvements are delivered.”

A council spokesperson added: “The construction programme for the Westgate scheme will take place at a similar time to works associated with City Village. While the two schemes are separate projects, their construction programmes will be aligned where possible to help minimise disruption across the local area.”