Work is underway to upgrade the complex junctions around the King Cross area of Halifax, using funding from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund.
Approximately £500k has been secured to fund valuable investment on the following road junctions at King Cross:
- A58/A646/Warley Road/King Cross Road;
- A58/Queens Road;
- A58/Haugh Shaw Road (Tesco) and Trafalgar Street crossing;
- King Cross Road/Queens Road.
Improvements will include the introduction of new LED lights, new signal poles, improved vehicle and pedestrian detection, improved controllers that can respond better to traffic conditions and monitoring cameras.
The works will future-proof the traffic signals, with smart technology benefitting all users of these junctions. The signals will also be converted to extra-low voltage, meaning they are more energy efficient.
The main works are planned for the Easter and Summer holidays in 2025, but initial preparatory works are currently underway to install the new sensors which will monitor traffic flow.
The work is being carried out in phases to minimise disruption. The first phase is taking place throughout November, with lane closures in place, on weekdays only, as follows:
- Until 11 November – A646 Skircoat Moor Road northbound (opposite Fire Station) lane closure including the slip onto A58 Rochdale Road.
- Tuesday 12 to 20 November – A646 Skircoat Moor Road (next to Fire Station) onto A58 Aachen Way footway closure only.
- Thursday 21 to Friday 29 November: A58 Aachen Way eastbound (next to Library) lane closure.
Phase two is due to take place in January and will involve some minor road narrowing on the exit from King Cross Road. This will be followed by works along A646 Burnley Road and A58 Rochdale Road.
The progress of other ongoing works in the Halifax area will be considered before the timing for the second phase of works is confirmed, to help minimise congestion.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, Cllr Sarah Courtney, said:
“The busy and complex junction at King Cross is one of the borough’s key interchanges. Funding from the Combined Authority is supporting a programme of work to upgrade the technology at the junction, helping to better manage traffic flow and the movement of pedestrians.
“The main part of this work will take place during school holidays next year, but we’re carrying out some preliminary works to install some of the technology required to monitor traffic conditions. This is being done in phases to minimise disruption.
“We’re also mindful of other works currently taking place in Halifax and the impact of this will be factored in as we consider the appropriate timing for some of the more disruptive parts of this project.”