FAQs

The scheme covers three main junctions to the A6177 Outer Ring Road to the West of Bradford:

• Great Horton Road / Horton Grange Road
• Thornton Road / Cemetery Road
• Toller Lane / Whetley Hill

The Corridor Improvement Programme (CIP) is a programme of low and medium cost highway interventions on strategic highway corridors on the Key Route Network (KRN).

CIP aims to deliver benefits for all road users with an emphasis on reducing journey times, in order to improve access to jobs and training opportunities. Improvements to transport will also help to improve air quality, and work towards tackling the climate emergency.

For more information on CIP schemes, please visit www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/projects/west-yorkshire-plus-transport-fund/corridor-improvement-programme-phase-1/ (opens in a new page)

Bradford Council is responsible for delivering the scheme.

Bradford Council were awarded funding from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) to prepare business case submissions for improvements to the three junctions along the A6177 Outer Ring Road to the west of Bradford. The proposals are focused on delivering a variety of interventions, after this scheme was prioritised for investment by the Combined Authority in 2017.

Bradford Council is working in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority was formed in April 2014 to be the driving force for economic growth across the 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. To find out more visit: www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk (opens in a new page).

The objectives of this scheme are to:

• Improve journey time reliability on the western section of the A6177 Outer Ring Road – reducing variability between peak and inter-peak time periods for journeys to/from Bradford.
• Reduce congestion along the A6177 Outer Ring Road in order to improve productivity and attract new investment – by reducing business operating costs, improving accessibility and creating greater confidence in highway provision.
• Support housing growth aspirations by reducing transport constraints to development – support the delivery of 8,000 new residences by 2030.
• Improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists to encourage more active modes, reduce severance and promote economic and physical activity. Increase in active modes to be observed one year post opening.
• Improve air quality – by reducing congestion and the number of vehicles idling at the junction. To be achieved five years post opening.
• Public realm – significantly improve the attractiveness of this part of the district by improving the urban environment through the demolition of blighted buildings and the creation of an enhanced public realm. To be achieved through project delivery.

Reduce road traffic collisions – to make travel safer, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists. Achieve a 5% reduction in accidents five years post opening.

Phase 1

Public consultation on all three junctions took place in early 2019:

• Great Horton Road / Horton Grange Road
• Thornton Road / Cemetery Road
• Toller Lane / Whetley Hill

Further details are available via www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/westbradford (opens in a new page)

Phase 2

Following approval of the Outline Business Case (OBC) by Investment Committee on 12th April 2019, further transport modelling work was recommended for the Thornton Road / Cemetery Road and Toller Lane / Whetley Hill junctions.

A decision was taken to progress with the Great Horton Road / Horton Grange Road junction. Details of the Phase 2A engagement and Phase 3A engagement are available below.

Phase 2A - Great Horton Road / Horton Grange Road junction

Following the engagement period, some further road improvements were suggested at this junction. This engagement stage was important as there were some small changes to the plans due to engineering / modelling / safety issues identified since Phase 2A engagement, not just due to public feedback.

Due to the changes, we wanted to  engage with the public again (Phase 3A). Further details are available via www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/westbradford2A (opens in a new page).

Phase 3A - Great Horton Road / Horton Grange Road junction

Engagement on this scheme has now been completed and the Final Business Case (FBC) has been submitted and approved by the Combined Authority in April 2021.

Further details are available via www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/GHR (opens in a new page).

Phase 2B - Toller Lane / Whetley Hill junction

Public engagement took place from 1 – 28 July 2021.

Further details are available via www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/westbradford2B (opens in a new page).

This public engagement is for the Thornton Rd / Cemetery Rd Junction (Phase 2C). which will take place from 1 – 28 July 2021.

Further details are available via www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/westbradford2C (opens in a new page).

This engagement was deferred due to additional optioneering and design work as well as further transport modelling necessary to accommodate the possibility of a cycle lane across the junction funded via the Transforming Cities Fund. Further details of the West Bradford Cycle Superhighway Extension scheme can be found here.

These changes are summarised below:

• The creation of additional straight ahead lanes on the Thornton Road (outbound) and Cemetery Road approaches to the junction
• The creation of a separate right turning lane on Thornton Road (inbound) onto Cemetery Road
• Dedicated left turns from Thornton Road (inbound) onto Allerton Road and from Cemetery Road onto Thornton Road (outbound)
• Improvements to pedestrian crossing facilities across each leg of the junction, including the creation of new islands within the junction 
• Landscaping improvements including additional tree planting at various locations in close proximity to the junction
• Left turn movement only from West Park Road into Thornton Road
• Waiting restriction Monday to Friday 07.30 – 09.30 to the front of nos.10 -70 Allerton Road
• No Waiting or Loading at any time on approaches on lengths of Thornton Road, Cemetery Road and West Park Road

One of the main aims of the scheme is to ease congestion, improve traffic management, leading to improved journey time reliability for road users.

A new cycle lane will also be implemented along Thornton Road as part of the West Bradford Cycle Superhighway Extension

Associated benefits are expected for public transport users, making service use more attractive. Improved pedestrian and cycling facilities will be provided, including new crossings and upgraded crossings, to improve connectivity. The scheme will contribute to reducing carbon emissions and supporting better air quality locally.

To carry out these transport improvements, we are seeking funding through the West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund and the Leeds City Region Growth Deal - a £1 billion package of Government investment through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to accelerate growth and create jobs across Leeds City Region.

The total cost of the schemes is estimated in the region of:

• Toller Lane / Whetley Hill Junction - £5 million*(This scheme has been paused / pipelined due to high inflation).
• Thornton Road/Cemetery Road Junction - £8 million*
• Great Horton Road / Horton Grange Road Junction - £6.2 million

(*Subject to approval of a full business case by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority)

Subject to approval from the Combined Authority in spring, construction work is currently programmed to commence in late 2023. It is currently anticipated that all work will be completed early 2025.

Local residents and businesses will benefit from journey time savings and also improved reliability when travelling. Reduction in congestion will make businesses more accessible. The scheme also looks to improve air quality locally.

There will be no change to bus stop locations or services as a result of the scheme. Buses are expected to benefit from journey time savings and improved reliability.

Improvements will be made to the junctions to improve the provision for pedestrians and cyclists. A new cycle lane will be implemented along Thornton Road. This will make it safer for people in the area. In addition, landscaping is proposed as part of the design which will improve the area visually.

Bradford is preparing an air quality plan which will protect and enhance the health of everyone who lives, works or spends time in the district. Those details can be found on the following website: www.bradford.gov.uk/breathe-better-bradford/breathe-better-bradford (external link)

The scheme will improve the flow of traffic and reduce idling at junctions. This in turn will contribute to improved air quality.

The decision documents are published on the Combined Authority’s website:

www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/projects/west-yorkshire-plus-transport-fund/corridor-improvement-programme-phase-1/bradford-a6177-orr-thornton-road/

The scheme has been progressed through the Outline Business Case (OBC) stage as part of the Combined Authority’s assurance process, with a view to supporting the submission of the Full Business Case (FBC) in spring 2023. Whilst at Outline Business Case (OBC), the schemes at Thornton Road / Cemetery Road and Toller Lane / Whetley Hill were progressed collectively, it is likely that two separate Full Business Case (FBC) documents will be developed.

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 are valuable to us and will help shape our scheme.

Please share this page with anyone you think would be interested in taking part in the public engagement. If you intend to submit a joint response on behalf of a group or organisation, please share the link with your colleagues or members so they can provide an individual response, should they wish to do so.

This engagement is live from 23 February – 22 March 2023 (4 weeks).

Further details of the engagement and the survey can be downloaded via www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/WestBradford2C.

We are keen to hear from local residents, businesses and commuters.

We are encouraging people to register on www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk to be kept involved and informed about the outcome of the engagement.

Your feedback is important, we need to demonstrate that we have taken onboard feedback as part of the on-going development of the wider scheme.

The feedback provided as part of this engagement will be taken into consideration for future improvements work subject to additional funding availability.

Hardcopies of the engagement materials can be requested using the MetroLine telephone number 0113 245 7676.

We are also holding a drop-in event at Morrisons (Community Room), Victoria Shopping Centre on Thursday 9 March, from 11am – 2pm where officers from Bradford Council will be available to answer any questions.