Plans to develop key road move forward
PLANS to transform the road network around Brighouse are moving forward, with work taking place to develop the A641 improvement scheme.
The A641 is a key route through Brighouse that connects Huddersfield and Bradford.
Calderdale Council says it carries around 38,000 vehicles on an average day.
Improvement proposals are now heading for full business case stage, following further approvals at the recent meeting of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
Clr Jane Scullion (Lab, Luddenden Foot), the council’s Cabinet member for Regeneration and Resources, said it means work can now begin to further develop preferred scheme options ahead of consultation exercises in 2021 with residents, businesses and other interested parties.
“The A641 through Brighouse is a busy road which suffers from a number of issues, including congestion and poor air quality,” she said.
“We want to help encourage a shift away from car use by improving facilities for cyclists and pedestrians and making bus travel a much more attractive prospect.
“I’m pleased that we can now move forward with plans for the project and start to develop more detailed proposals which we’ll then share as part of consultation exercises.”
Transport-related issues currently experienced on the road include traffic congestion, poor air quality and a lack of facilities for cyclists and pedestrians, she added.
The proposals should improve the flow of traffic and provide safe, convenient and enhanced access through Brighouse town centre and along the A641.
The scheme will include junction improvements, new cycleways and new link roads to better connect communities, said Clr Scullion.
Improvements will also aim to encourage walking, cycling and the use of public transport as a viable alternative to car use.
Clr Scullion said the scheme complements other projects in the south east Calderdale area, including Clifton Business Park, the Brighouse town centre masterplan and garden suburb proposals which form part of the draft Local Plan that could to move into second phase hearings later this year.
The A641 scheme is being funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund, which is part of the Leeds City Region Growth Deal - a £1bn package of Government investment through WYCA and Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP).