New images have been released showing how work around Halifax town centre will transform travel, with new safer ways for people to get around and welcoming areas into and around the town centre.
Calderdale Council is delivering the A629 Phase 2 Halifax town centre project, an ambitious regeneration project which is fully funded through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund.
New images illustrate how the project will create new public places and how people will be able to travel safely and efficiently, including through the introduction of new cycle routes.
The images depict:
- A new connection west of Halifax to the town centre at Bull Green.
- Opening up Cow Green, creating a welcoming gateway to the town centre from the west.
- A welcoming route from Halifax Rail Station to the town centre for Square Chapel, the Central Library, The Piece Hall, and Calderdale Industrial Museum.
- New space for people and safe routes for cycling and walking on Broad Street and a link from the north of the town to Market Street.
- A new layout and safe routes around the Victoria Theatre, with better connections to the town centre from the south and west.
- The pedestrianisation of Market Street.
Work on the project has been progressing well, with the first phase of work focused around the west of the town. This has included ongoing work at Bull Green, Northgate, Broad Street and Skircoat Road to allow for improvements including new pedestrian facilities and cycle lanes. The work is delivering improvements for driving, with new efficient road layouts and upgraded signals working together to make sure traffic keeps moving when it gets busy.
One of the most visible first changes has been the removal of the roundabout at Bull Green, in preparation for the new junction. This will create a more efficient layout and allow for the planting of trees and landscaping, improving the area for people walking into the town centre. Work has also started to improve the route for people travelling from Halifax Bus Station and the north of the town into the town centre.
Construction work is being carried out by Galliford Try. Work will be completed in three parts; western, eastern and central; with work on each section to run consecutively to minimise disruption.
Members of the Galliford Try team are in Halifax Borough Market (between Urban Burrito and Toffee Smiths) every Tuesday and Wednesday from 10am-1pm to help answer questions about the project.
Whilst works continue in Halifax town centre, people are encouraged to plan ahead, and allow a little more time for journeys. To support access around the western side of the town whilst work is happening at Bull Green, the Council has commissioned a free shuttle bus to serve areas of the town. For more information, visit West Halifax Shuttle Bus | Metro(external link)
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, Cllr Sarah Courtney, said:
“Millions of pounds of investment as part of the A629 Phase 2 Halifax town centre project is completely transforming travel in and around Halifax town centre. Landscaping will improve the look and feel of key spaces, while upgrades to junctions will make travel more efficient and support improved public transport connectivity and cycle infrastructure.
“The new images show how recent milestones and work currently taking place across the town will progress and come together to benefit people living, working or visiting Halifax. It’s great to be able to get an idea how things will look and visualise the changes to road layouts and how this will support people to move around the town and between key places more easily.”
Cllr Peter Carlill, Deputy Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee, said:
“It’s great to see what Halifax town centre will look like once this multi-million-pound project is finished.
“We recognise this is causing some disruption and want to thank people for their patience while the works are ongoing to make Halifax a safer and easier place to walk, wheel, cycle and use public transport.”
More information, including detailed plans for the western phase of works, is available at calderdalenextchapter.co.uk/projects/a629-halifax-town-centre(external link).
The A629 phase 2 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 delivered by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to accelerate growth and create jobs across Leeds City Region.
Think you know Halifax? Think again. It’s an inspiring time for Halifax. Discover your part in it(external link).
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