Transforming Travel between Leeds & Pontefract- A639

Please note - this consultation has now closed.

The Outcome Report can be viewed HERE.

The information below was presented during the public consultation between Monday 4 July to Sunday 14 August 2022.

Wakefield Council and Leeds City Council, in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, would like your feedback on proposed improvements to the A639. Changes are proposed between Thwaite Gate on the edge of Leeds City Centre and Pontefract Town Centre.

In this public consultation we would like your feedback on initial proposals for a range of improvements to bus, walking and cycling facilities along the A639 corridor, which will help shape the development of more detailed plans.

Please read the details below and then fill out the survey here.

Project Overview

The A639 corridor is a key route linking Leeds and Pontefract. It serves the communities between east Leeds and Pontefract. The corridor also provides for a number of north-south movements along it, connecting key urban areas such as Lofthouse and Stanley, with other areas including Woodlesford and Oulton to the west and areas such as Normanton and Ackton with Castleford to the east. The corridor carries both long-distance traffic from across the region, as well as local traffic and is also a high frequency bus route.

Bus journeys along the A639 corridor often experience delays, particularly at peak times due to congestion and a lack of dedicated bus priority measures. This results in fewer people feeling able to switch from travelling by car to bus. This then results in more congestion and poorer air quality.

There are also narrow pavements and limited crossing opportunities for people walking along the A639 corridor, making it unappealing for users, particularly children and the elderly. There is also a lack of dedicated facilities for people cycling along the A639 corridor, meaning they are often travelling very close to the traffic and can feel unsafe.

Objectives

The A639 Corridor Improvements Scheme will deliver better bus services by improving bus journey times. This will be done with the introduction of new bus lanes and priority given to buses at key junctions using ‘smart signal technology’. The scheme will improve access to bus stops and information, provide improved waiting facilities and make it easier to interchange between different bus services and different types of transport. his will help people without access to a car become better connected to employment, education, and training opportunities across the region. It will also encourage people who currently drive to travel more sustainably (i.e., by bus, bike or on foot if they can) and reduce the impact on local air quality.

The scheme will also improve the route for people walking and cycling by introducing new and improved facilities including cycle lanes, wider footways, and crossings.

Other proposed improvements to make the roads safer include better on-street car parking and improved junctions. This will encourage people making shorter journeys (such as travelling to school) to consider walking or cycling instead. It will also improve public health, safety, and air quality.

The proposals will be complemented by a range of new planting, greenery, and places to stop and rest. This will make the public spaces along the route more inviting and less car dominated.

Our proposals along the route have been divided into seven ‘zones’. Click on the zones below to find out more about current issues, the proposals, and plans:

• Zone 1: Thwaite Gate to Intermezzo Drive (Leeds)
• Zone 2: Intermezzo Drive to M1 J44 (Leeds)
• Zone 3: M1 J44 to Styebank Lane (Leeds)
• Zone 4: Styebank Lane to Oulton Roundabout (Leeds)
• Zone 5: Oulton Roundabout to Methley Lane Roundabout (Leeds)
• Zone 6: ASDA, Glasshoughton (Wakefield district)
• Zone 7: A645 Southgate (Wakefield district)
• Rothwell Transport Hub (Leeds)

The map below is an overview the proposals we are consulting on. You can view the map more closely with the other consultation documents or click to view the map (opens in a new tab).