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Residents and businesses in Huddersfield have been warned to expect delays from next week as a 12-month scheme to ease congestion begins on the A62 Leeds Road.
As part of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Corridor Improvement Programme, a mile-and-a-quarter stretch of the A62 from Old Fieldhouse Lane to Huddersfield Ring Road will undergo major works.
The scheme is due to start on Monday April 4 and Kirklees Council has warned of delays and disruption but says as much as possible is being done to minimise inconvenience.
The council says the works, which involve junction improvements and major work on the entrance to the Great Northern Retail Park, will boost employment opportunities.
The work will speed up journey times and open up development land, which could eventually create over 1,000 new jobs and provide 2,500 new homes.
The scheme will also have a strong focus on cycling and greener modes of travel with the council committed to offering “real alternatives” to car travel.
New cycle routes will be provided throughout the length of the A62, some on-road and some segregated.
Alterations will be made to traffic signals to improve safety and capacity for cyclists and pedestrians, and improvements will be made to bus stops and shelters on the route.
Further upgrades will be made to increase the highway’s capacity and reduce congestion, helping improve journey times for all road users to and from Huddersfield as well as improving air quality.
Upgrades will be made at the following junctions:
- A62 and Bradley Mills Road
- A62 and St Andrew’s Road
- A62, Hillhouse Lane and Thistle Street
- A62 and Gasworks Street (removal of gyratory to be replaced with two signalised junctions)
- Lower Fitzwilliam Street and Great Northern Retail Park
The construction work, carried out by Colas SIAC Ltd, should last around 12 months and residents and businesses should expect delays and disruption – however, measures will be implemented to keep delays to a minimum.
A council spokesman said: “There will be partial road closures but our aim for the duration of these improvements is to keep traffic running throughout the route.
“Primary focuses are to ensure safety for all road users whilst maintaining access for local businesses.
READ MORE: Gridlock in the car park at the Great Northern Retail Park ‘solved by Christmas’
“The normal working hours for the construction will be Monday to Friday between 7.30am and 6.30pm. Resurfacing works will be carried out during the night between 7pm and 6am. There will be no works on public holidays.
“There will not be any traffic restrictions on Gasworks Street, St Andrew’s Road or Thistle Street when events are occurring at John Smith’s Stadium, particularly on match days for Huddersfield Town and the Huddersfield Giants.”
Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said: “Congestion, slow journey times and poor air quality are ongoing problems along the A62 Leeds Road.
“Motorists, bus users, cyclists and residents will all benefit from reduced congestion and enhanced safety measures.
“Cyclists will be better protected using new cycle routes and more people will be encouraged take the bus as there will be greater provision for buses along the A62.
“The improvements also focus on landscaping the surrounding area. The result will be the removal of tarmac where it has become unnecessary and instead more trees and plants to encourage wildlife. The overall environment will be significantly enhanced for all users and nearby residents.”
Clr Peter McBride, Cabinet member for growth and regeneration, said: “Maintaining and improving our key routes is vitally important. This stage of work will focus on improving sustainable transport links on the A62, providing realistic alternatives to the car.
“By providing better links for Kirklees, the project to improve this vital highway could help support the creation of over 1,000 new jobs and access to 2,500 new homes in the future.”
