Steeton Silsden Bridge 2025

The responses are now being analysed and the outcome report will be published once completed.

Background

Bradford Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority consulted in 2020 on options to improve the crossing over the A629 between Steeton and Silsden, with options for an improved at-grade crossing, an underpass, or a bridge. Of these proposals the bridge was overwhelmingly the most popular, and this option has been developed since to create the bridge design proposals detailed on this page.

This consultation also highlighted that people experience lots of problems crossing the A629 between Steeton and Silsden, and respondents told us they avoid walking, wheeling and/or cycling between Steeton and Silsden as it feels too dangerous. Respondents suggested they would be willing to walk, wheel or cycle more frequently if a new bridge provided a safe way to cross the A629. You can read more about this consultation at this page here: www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/steeton-silsden-crossing

A computer rendering showing how the proposed bridge could look from above We want to know what you think about the new proposals

The Steeton and Silsden scheme will incorporate a new bridge across the A629. Currently, limited footways and low quality crossing facilities can feel dangerous to use. By offering a safe segregated bridge for pedestrians and cyclists to cross the A629 this proposal will make it easier to access local jobs, shops, the canal towpath and the railway station, resulting in fewer people needing to drive their car for short local journeys. Key features of the proposals include:

• A new bridge enabling the continuation of a 3 metre-wide segregated cycle-way and 2 metre wide footway over the A629 landing on Station Road. The bridge alignment features curved corners to slow down cyclists and improve the safety for all users.
• The location of the bridge has been chosen to minimise the number of landowners affected by the structure while allowing for a gentle gradient up to the height required for safe clearance over the A629. Where trees are lost, they will be replaced in a new area of local biodiversity between the A629 and the River Aire.
• The position of the bridge on the west side of the roundabout would allow for improved connectivity to a potential second stage which could provide better connections from the bridge into Steeton and Silsden, subject to a favourable business case and availability of future funding.
• Better access to Steeton and Silsden railway station would be via a new toucan crossing over Station Road connecting to an improved and widened ramp down to the eastbound platform of Steeton and Silsden railway station (towards Keighley, Bradford and Leeds). The existing stairs will remain.
• A segregated two-way cycleway and footway alongside the A6034 northbound (towards Silsden) on its approach to the A629 roundabout would connect to a toucan crossing on the A6034 via a shared use pedestrian and cycle area. This toucan crossing is positioned away from the bridge over the River Aire to ensure visibility of the crossing for approaching vehicles. (A toucan crossing is designed so both people walking, wheeling and cycling can all use the crossing at the same time).
• To improve safety, we propose to remove existing crossings on the eastern (from Keighley), western (from Skipton) and southern (from Steeton) approaches to the A629 and replace the existing crossing on Station Road with a new toucan crossing and remove existing footpaths alongside Station Road and Keighley Road on their approach to the A629 roundabout. The crossing on the northern approach (from Silsden) is retained to provide access between public rights of way.
  
  

Funding

Subject to the development of a successful business case, the £12.9 million cost of this project is being funded through the £830 million City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) which has been allocated to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. Bradford is developing various transport projects of a value over £100m aimed at enhancing the city's infrastructure and supporting sustainable transport initiatives, which if successful would also be funded from CRSTS.

 An Outline Business Case and an agreement for a further £2.7million for project development was approved in October 2024 by the Combined Authority which allows the first phase of the scheme to move forward. 

The funding is separate from council revenue funding for council services and is ringfenced by central government for use only to deliver sustainable transport improvements and cannot be spent on council services.   

A computer rendering showing how the proposed bridge could look from the A629

Have Your Say

We listened to your previous feedback and we are excited to share our updated proposals.  You can view more information about our proposals on this page and in the attached documents. Once you have read all the information, please let us know what you think. Your feedback is important to help us further refine the scheme design before we submit a planning application and full business case.  

You can tell us what you think in the following ways: 

• Complete our feedback questionnaire by the closing date Sunday 16 February 2025 
• Read our frequently asked questions and answers - if we haven’t already answered your question feel free to ask us a new question using the contact details or Q&A tool below 

Paper surveys will be available at our drop-in events for you to take home and send back using our Freepost address: FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM WYCA (no stamp needed).

If you can't get to one of our drop-in events, please join us online. We’ll be hosting a free online Zoom webinar to give you an opportunity to learn more about the plans and submit any questions. Sign up through the link below: 

6pm - 7pm Tuesday 11 February 2025 - register at this zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ILrZpg-_RoeO0m2GqDHqug(External link)

You can also contact us by:

• Writing to us at FREEPOST CCONSULTATION TEAM WYCA (no stamp needed)
• Email at yourvoice@westworks-ca.gov.uk(External link)
• or phone MetroLine on 0113 245 7676.

Please contact us if you want any materials in an accessible format.

Next Steps  

The engagement will close at 11:59pm on Sunday 16 February 2025. If you’d like to know the outcome of this engagement, please register for updates using the ‘Register Here’ button on this page. 

We will consider all feedback to further shape and inform the scheme prior to its delivery. Following a final decision on design, a full planning application for the bridge will be submitted in March 2025. The project team will be seeking to appoint a partner to advise on construction of the scheme and to work with the design team to prepare the final full business case application for the first phase for the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s approval in early 2026, with the bridge expected to be open for use in spring 2027.