Short-term solution to relief road traffic

From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Monday 20th Sep 2004.

Short-term solutions to ease congestion on the district's roads since the opening of the Bingley Relief Road could be in place by next spring.

Plans are being drawn up by Bradford Council's highways officers to tackle the traffic problems experienced in the Shipley and Cottingley areas.

Officers have come up with five short-term solutions to relieve congestion and rat-running in residential areas.

They are:

l reviewing the operation of Bradford Old Road and Cottingley Moor Road junction to help relieve congestion

l widening the A650 between the Ramada Jarvis Bankfield Hotel and Nab Wood Cemetery to enable the extension of the existing bus lane

l reviewing the signing, lining and signal timings on major roads to improve traffic flow

l improving the Leeds-Liverpool canal towpath as an alternative route for cyclists

l working with companies in the area to help them reduce the number of commuter and business journeys.

Val Peleshi, a spokesman for Nab Wood Together residents' group, said she hoped something could be done at the junction next to Cottingley Village Primary school, in Cottingley Moor Road, which was a bottleneck in rush hour.

"It's because of all the new houses that have been built up there and the sheer level of traffic. It's just manic," she said. "What we need is either traffic lights or a roundabout at the junction with Bradford Old Road.

"The A650 should have been widened ahead of the relief road and now cars come off the new road unaware of the junctions just around the bend.

"Rat-running has always been a problem in Nab Wood and anything to help free up the A650 has to be welcomed.

"I try to avoid travelling anywhere by car during busy periods as it's just not worth it."

The short-term measures are part of the Aire Valley Transport Improvement Project which aims to improve public transport and conditions for cyclists and pedestrians along the A650, reduce traffic and protect the environment of Saltaire and Northcliffe.

Surveys have shown more than 2,000 extra vehicles are coming through Saltaire roundabout since the relief road opened last year.

And 900 more vehicles every day are using Cottingley New Road.

Other improvements proposed, including developing park-and-ride schemes, improvements to Saltaire roundabout and developing Shipley railway station, would need extra funding from the Government, and would, if approved, take about four years to complete.

The proposals follow consultation in affected areas, and a public meeting held in April.

A progress report on the plan will go forward to the executive committee in due course and a full public consultation on the plans will be held this winter. If successful, the short-term solutions could be in place by next spring.

Archive Home