FAQs

Timelines for the project are yet to be confirmed and are subject to approval. We submitted the outline business case to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority in December 2018 during 2019 and 2020 we will be working on the design of the full business case proposals and the planning application for the project. 

The A629 Halifax to Huddersfield project is being delivered by Calderdale Council with funding from the West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund. The £1bn fund is being invested over 10 years in more than 30 transport infrastructure schemes across West Yorkshire and York, designed to create around 20,000 new jobs and add £2.4 billion a year to the economy by the mid-2030s.

The Combined Authority was formed in April 2014 to be the driving force for economic growth across Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield districts and the City of York Council area. The West Yorkshire Combined Authority brings together key decision making powers into a single body. You can find out more about them on their website www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk. 

The A629 Halifax to Huddersfield scheme has funding provisionally allocated from the Combined Authority as part of the West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund and therefore the funding will not be able to be spent on any other proposals or scheme. If the Combined Authority do not accept the business case, then the scheme cannot go ahead and the money may be spent elsewhere in the region. 

The A629 Halifax to Huddersfield is a key route that, through improvements, could create jobs, relieve congestion, reduce journey times for general traffic and public transport, and improve pedestrian and cycling accessibility.

Calderdale and Kirklees Council are jointly developing interventions that will be introduced in various projects along the A629 corridor. Visit www.calderdalenextchapter.co.uk for details of the Calderdale projects and www.kirklees.gov.uk/majorschemes for the Kirklees project.

Air quality monitoring was carried out during 2017 and 2018 at various locations along the corridor, between Huddersfield and Halifax, to provide a baseline record of air quality conditions before any changes are made. 

The project seeks to better air quality where possible. Detailed meddling analysis of the air quality will be undertaken during the full business case stage. 

We will be looking at ways to improve the walking environment and make routes more ‘walkable’. Improvements to pedestrian and cycle routes, both on and off the highway network will allow for connectivity between the attractors on the route, including Halifax and Huddersfield rail stations, the proposed Elland rail station, Calderdale and Huddersfield hospitals, business parks, schools, colleges and residential areas. 

Cyclists will benefit from an improved cycle infrastructure and routes along the full A629 corridor, improving journeys between Halifax and Huddersfield with end to end infrastructure. These improvements will include widened paths on the network to allow for safer journeys, promotion of quiet on network routes, and the creation of greenway (off network) routes. Cycle paths will be better than the UK standard where possible. New and existing cycle routes will link up with existing routes and will link with the proposals for cycling improvements as part of the Elland Station Gateway project. 

Capacity and junction signals will be improved in the currently congested areas of Ainley Top and West Vale. Active network management will be introduced to improve journeys for all modes. 

This scheme will see significant benefits for bus users through the creation of a quality bus corridor with highway measures to improve bus journey times and journey quality. Highway improvements at Ainley Top and West Vale will also improve bus journeys. Improvements along the route will include real time information along bus routes, with improved stop locations. Bus infrastructure will enable bus operators to introduce an express service between Huddersfield and Halifax. 

Through the proposed improvements to the bus infrastructure, the bus operators will be enabled to introduce an express service between Halifax and Huddersfield. The existing services will be significantly improved to allow for quicker journey times. 

The changes to bus stops are:

• The Stainland Road bus stop (north of Church Street) is being removed. The additional stop is on Rochdale Road to pick up passengers that would have used the stop on Saddleworth Road.
• The stops on Long Wall near to the Saddleworth Road junction are being moved to provide separation between stops.
• The two stops in each direction on Jepson Lane are being amalgamated into one.
• Doubling the length of the eastbound at Lowfields for the express bus.
• Additional bus stops on Thornhill Road/Hungerford Road to accommodate the express bus.
• Amendments to the layby on Elland Riorges Link.

Yes, there will be minor changes to the road layout along the corridor. 

At the outline business case stage we don’t have this detail of information. We will consult at the end of the preliminary design stage. 

At this stage don’t know how trees will be impacted. During the detailed design stage we will avoid, where possible, impacting trees along the route. 

We welcome opinions and feedback from anyone. Whether you travel by public transport, walk, drive, cycle, are a business owner, local resident or just travel through the area, your views and insight is valuable to us to shape our scheme. 

- Join us at one of our drop in sessions:

• Cedar Court Ainley Top, 11^th February 
• Elland Methodist Church, 18^th February 2019
• Gledholt Methodist Church, Marsh, 25^th February 2019
• Huddersfield Town Hall, 27^th February 2019
• Halifax Town Hall, 5^th March 2019

- Fill in the survey on this website or post a specific question here

- Email the team at thenextchapter@calderdale.gov.uk 

By having your say and sharing your views we will be able to ensure that the priorities and thoughts you have on your area are considered in the project proposals.

You can keep up to date on all Calderdale Next Chapter projects by signing up to the newsletter

We will also use the Next Chapter website and our social media channels to regularly promote project progress (follow #CdaleNextChapter).

The requirement for future engagement activities will be confirmed during the next stage of development.

Yes, we are working closely with colleagues in Kirklees Council to ensure the scheme is successfully delivered. This scheme is a joint initiative between Kirklees and Calderdale Council. For ease and efficiency Calderdale is the promoting authority.