Kirklees Council is getting ready to deliver the next stage of its Huddersfield ‘Better Connected Stations’ scheme. When complete the scheme will make the area between the bus station and the railway station much safer and more pleasant for people working, shopping, socialising and living in the town.
The project will deliver widened pavements for visitors, new cycle paths and an improved urban environment for visitors and residents with better street lighting, road surfaces and crossings to link the two crucial transport hubs in Huddersfield.
The investment is funded through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s bid for the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund and is part of a much wider investment in making sure our roads are designed for the future and offer a better balance between those travelling on foot and by bike, and those using a motor vehicle.
Residents can find out more about the scheme at: https://www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/bcshuddersfield.
As with all major road investment schemes there needs to be short term disruption before the long term benefits can be enjoyed. The council is working hard to limit disruption by making some temporary changes to the flow of traffic in the area around Westgate.
As works take place on Westgate, traffic travelling towards the town centre will be diverted via Upperhead Row, George Street, Sergeantson Street, Fox Street, Market Street and back onto Westgate. This will provide extra road capacity and reduce the risk of traffic congestion on the ring road.
The diversion will be in place from 21 February until 18 May 2021.
To facilitate the changes, the bus gate cameras on Market Street will be temporarily suspended for the duration of the works. Once the works are completed and the usual movement of traffic reinstated the cameras will be switched back on.
Cllr Peter McBride, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “I’m pleased that we are making progress on these important improvements to Huddersfield town centre. Once complete, the connection between the railway station and bus station will be hugely improved and will be safer and more pleasant for everyone, including cyclists and pedestrians. A modern town centre needs high quality connections between all forms public transport. It also needs to look after the interests of people who are travelling on foot or by bicycle. That’s exactly what this scheme will give residents, business and visitors.
“I would like to thank local businesses and residents for their patience during the upcoming period of unavoidable disruption whilst we make these important improvements.”
Cllr Naheed Mather, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “As we respond the climate emergency, we need to make it easier for people to use greener ways of travelling around our towns. These improvements will make cycling and walking a much more positive option in Huddersfield while managing road traffic effectively at the same time.”