Calderdale Council’s ambitious project to transform travel in and around Halifax is moving forward. Construction work at the top of town (western side) is nearly complete, with work around the bottom of town (eastern section) following later this spring.
The Council is delivering the A629 phase 2 Halifax town centre project, which is fully funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. The project has been designed to reduce journey times, make travel safer, improve public space and improve air quality, as well as deliver economic growth, with investment secured by the Council for Calderdale.
The upgrades around the top of Halifax include new road layouts, routes and junctions to make all types of travel easier and safer.
The next phase will focus on the bottom of town, with upgrades including a better connection between Halifax Rail Station and the town centre through a new town gateway. There will be a new road, and new routes to improve traffic flow.
To ensure a phased approach, the work on the second part will only begin after work has finished at the top of town. Construction on these sections has been deliberately staggered to minimise disruption.
The move is planned for April 2026, and information about changes and diversions will be shared well ahead of the start of work, so people can plan ahead for journeys in and out of Halifax.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, Cllr Sarah Courtney, said:
“We’re delivering change on a grand scale in Halifax town centre. So far, work has been focused around the top of the town, with improvements around Bull Green and surrounding areas. This was the most complex part of the project, with so many work areas and different junctions to navigate. As this difficult phase of construction work nears completion, we’re putting in place the processes to begin work on the next phase, with work focused on the area close to the rail station and Minster.
“We want to reassure people that construction in this area will not begin until construction work at the top of town is complete – planned for April 2026. This is part of the phased approach which has been planned to minimise disruption as much as possible.
“We’ll make sure that the changes to traffic and travel will be promoted well ahead of work beginning to allow people to plan their routes in advance and ensure that diversion routes will be well signed.
“We’re also holding drop-in events for people to find out more about the works and hear more about the challenges of delivering this unprecedented programme of investment in our town centre.”
There will be some diversions and temporary signals to allow work on the east section, around the bottom of town, to take place safely and maintain access to destinations in the town centre. All major routes will be kept open once work starts later in the spring.
When construction moves from the top to the bottom of Halifax – a diversion will guide traffic around the newly open western route, and away from the Shaw Hill / South Parade route into the town centre. Traffic will not be able to travel north on Church Street, from the junction at New Road/Prescott Street to the rail station.
Upcoming information events will also allow people to find out more about all the works as part of the A629 phase 2 Halifax town centre project. The contractor for the works, Galliford Try, and members of the Council’s project team, will be available at drop-in events in Albany Arcade in Halifax Borough Market on the following dates and times:
- Thursday 19 February 2026 from 6 – 8.30pm
- Saturday 21 February 2026 from 9am – 4pm
Lots of information is available on the Calderdale The Next Chapter project pages, with plans and FAQ about the eastern phase of the project. https://calderdalenextchapter.co.uk/projects/a629-halifax-town-centre#east(external link)
Once complete, the project will enable people to move more easily and safely around the town, with new junction layouts that are more efficient and upgraded signals that work together to keep traffic moving when it gets busy.
Calderdale Council has received funding for the A629 phase 2 Halifax town centre project through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
Think you know Halifax? Think again. It’s an inspiring time for Halifax. Discover your part in it(external link)