Tong Street: Multi million pound scheme to improve one of most congested roads to go ahead
A multi million pound scheme to improve one of Bradford’s most congested roads will still go ahead – Government has confirmed.
The Department for Transport this week has revealed that works to Tong Street first proposed several years ago have survived a purge of the “long and unaffordable” list of road schemes planned across the UK.
As of last year the scheme was predicted to cost around £25m. It would see the road widened to two lanes in each direction between the junction with Knowles Lane and Toftshaw Lane.
New pedestrian crossings would be installed along the road and numerous bus stops would be improved.
A two-way cycle track, separate from the road and footway, will also be created.
On Thursday the Government announced that following a review of previously announced road schemes, sixteen major projects would still be going ahead.
This includes the Tong Street scheme, although the Government will still require a full business case to be approved before the project can go ahead.
It will also be accompanied by works to improve Wakefield Road, a scheme that was approved by West Yorkshire Combined Authority earlier this month.
Bradford South MP Judith Cummins was sent a letter by Roads Minister Simon Lightwood informing her of the decision.
It said: “We inherited from the previous Government a long and unaffordable list of schemes and have had to review the programme to determine which are still viable and which offer the best value for money for taxpayers.
“The 16 schemes we are supporting are those which demonstrate the best overall value for money for local and national taxpayers.
“You will wish to be aware that A650 Tong Street will remain within the programme.
“This means that the Department will continue to support its development, subject to the usual business case and approvals process.
“This scheme, should it pass the necessary business case approvals, will deliver significant housing and growth benefits as well as addressing congestion pinch-points on the local road network.”
Welcoming the news, Ms Cummins said: “This announcement represents major investment in congested roads in Bradford South. For too long the bottleneck on the A650 has been major frustration for residents, businesses and commuters.
“This investment needs to be seen alongside the increased funding for Bradford Council, the £20m of Pride in Place funding that I secured for Holme Wood, and the Pride in Place Impact funding coming to local high streets and neighbourhoods across Bradford South.”