A650 Connect: Wakefield Road / Tong Street

Bradford Council, in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, is proposing to upgrade Wakefield Road and Tong Street as part of a strategy to improve major transport routes into Bradford city centre and around the Bradford district. The proposals aim to create a better-connected transport route that improves traffic flow, makes walking, wheeling and cycling easier, and ensures public transport is more reliable.  

An overview map of our proposals for Wakefield RoadWhy is the scheme being proposed? 

Around one in three people living in the neighbourhoods along Tong Street, and just under one in two people living in areas surrounding Wakefield Road, don't own a car.  

Up to 37,000 vehicles travel along this route every day. This causes congestion which reduces the reliability of public transport. The lack of walking, wheeling, and cycling infrastructure further isolates local people who don’t drive.  

This means that essential travel is challenging for many households along the route who need to get to work on time, pick children up from school or attend appointments as part of their everyday lives. 

An overview map of our proposals for Tong Street

We want to create a fairer choice in transport that helps local people go about their busy lives with reliable and safe access to jobs, education, healthcare and other opportunities across the Bradford district, without being held up in congestion.   

The A650 Connect project is made up of two Bradford Council projects, one covering Tong Street and the other covering Wakefield Road. The projects have different funding sources, with Tong Street being funded primarily by the central government’s Major Route Network fund and supported by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Plus Transport Fund. Subject to successful business case approval, the Wakefield Road section would be funded by the Combined Authority’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS). Although the projects are funded differently, Bradford Council has a shared vision for the entire route, to provide a wider range of accessible transport options and reliable public transport that works for communities along the route.  

To help us achieve our objectives, proposals have been tailored to address the different challenges along Wakefield Road and Tong Street. You can view more detailed maps of our proposals here: https://www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/39668/widgets/117858/documents/79475

Across the route, we are proposing: 

On Wakefield Road only: 

On Tong Street only: 

Get in touch and have your say  

The consultation period for the proposed measures will run for five weeks from 4 March 2025 until midnight on 6 April 2025. You can share your feedback on our proposals for either Wakefield Road, Tong Street, or both sections via this link here: https://online1.snapsurveys.com/wrts(External link)

Come to a drop-in event: 

We are holding two community drop-in events, where you can meet the project team working on the scheme, learn more about the proposals and share your feedback and suggestions. 

The events will be held on the following dates and times. You don’t need to book or register, just drop in at any time during event opening hours. 

Attend our webinar: 

Can’t make it to a drop-in event? You can also sign-up to our online webinar and learn more about the project. There will also be opportunity for you to ask your questions directly to the project team. 

Zoom, Tuesday 25 March, 6pm-7.30pm 
Register to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ljYP1T5UTNGtj71DYO234g(External link)  

If you have any questions on the project, you can get in touch with the team through the following channels:  

• Email us at info@a650connect.com(External link) 
• Call our freephone line at 0808 196 9119 (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays) 
• Write to us at Freepost BFD Highways (no stamp needed)