Pedestrians can now walk to the centre of Mytholmroyd more easily, thanks to the opening of a modern new footbridge that crosses the River Calder.
The bridge opened to the public on Wednesday 20 March 2024, after local businessperson, Jo Ward from Jo’s Kitchen next to the bridge, cut a ribbon to mark this significant milestone.
Calderdale Council, with support from the West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund and the Leeds City Region Growth Deal, has installed a stronger and carefully designed replacement for the old footbridge that was beyond repair.
The new concrete, glass and steel structure at the junction of New Road and Burnley Road has a waterproof, anti-slip surface, and complements the historic Grade II listed road bridge nearby. It has also been designed to work with the Mytholmroyd Flood Alleviation Scheme.
Some parts of the structure were so big that they had to be lifted into place with a large crane overnight to minimise disruption.
The works have been completed by Jackson Civil Engineering, and form part of the A646 / A6033 Corridor Improvement Programme (CIP). This programme stretches from Todmorden to Skircoat Moor in Halifax, and is being delivered in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
One aim of the programme is to improve facilities for pedestrians and cyclists on and around this busy route. Wider work also addresses long-standing issues with congestion, especially at peak times, and aims to reduce delays for local bus services.
Further CIP work in Mytholmroyd includes creation of a new route across the edge of Burnley Road Academy playing fields, to connect Burnley Road with Rochdale Canal for people walking, cycling or wheeling. Some traffic restrictions to protect a number of side road junctions have already been introduced, and a new bus shelter, covered with a ‘green’ roof, has now been installed at the New Road junction. Once the new mains electrical supply is installed, the bus shelter will include real-time travel updates showing how long the bus will take to arrive and when the next bus will be.
Cllr Scott Patient, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Active Travel and Housing, said:
“Opening this great new footbridge is another milestone in delivering our priorities for Calderdale.
“We want to help people get active to protect their health and the environment – the bridge makes it easier, more pleasant and more sustainable to walk into Mytholmroyd. We want people to visit and invest in our towns and places to help them thrive and boost the economy – the bridge provides better links to all that the village has to offer, and builds on previous investment in Mytholmroyd such as the Flood Alleviation Scheme.”
Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said:
“It’s great to see the new footbridge open as part of a wide range of projects to improve walking and cycling facilities in Calderdale.
“In doing this, we’re encouraging more people to choose greener, more sustainable ways to travel around West Yorkshire.
“This work will help as we tackle the climate emergency and build a better-connected region that works for everyone.”
Jo Ward from Jo’s Kitchen added:
“We are really excited for the footbridge to be opened! We have enjoyed watching the progress of the bridge and witnessing the hard work of the builders. The opening of the bridge has aligned with the café’s fourth birthday, so it’s celebrations all round and you can find out more about these on our social media. We are honoured to be a part of the reopening.”
The project has received funding through the West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund and the Leeds City Region Growth Deal – a £1 billion package of Government investment through the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), delivered by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to accelerate growth and create jobs across Leeds City Region.
For more information about the A646 / A6033 improvements and other major projects benefiting Calderdale, visit https://calderdalenextchapter.co.uk(external link)