MOTORISTS are facing up to 64 weeks of delays from the end of the month as long-awaited work on re-aligning the New Line/Harrogate Road junction in Greengates finally gets underway.

Bradford Council is to restart work on the £12.3 million road improvements scheme at the junction from Monday, July 27.

Work on the scheme was paused due to the restrictions put in place by the Government to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The Council has acknowledged that the works will cause major disruption in the area and said some diversions and road closures will be needed but it did not give any details of what that would entail.

The scheme is designed to reduce congestion by improving journey times and cut delays as well as improve air quality for road users and residents alike. It will also allow greater control over the flow of traffic through the congested junction.

The scheme will also include improvements for pedestrians and cyclists with puffin crossings at the junctions which will help increase footfall to local businesses.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “The Government restrictions in place to stop the spread of the coronavirus have changed, allowing this work to restart safely.

“It is likely that there will be some disruption including diversions and road closures during the improvement work and we will do all we can to keep this to a minimum, but the improvements are necessary and will be worth it.”

The easing of some lockdown measures means that the work, which is being done in conjunction with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, can restart safely.

Tree planting and other low level planting will be carried out once the construction of the new junction has been completed. The council will then be working with Friends of Greengates to finalise the plans.

The improvement works are being funded in part by the West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund. The West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund is supported through the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership Growth Deal – a £1 billion package of Government investment delivered in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to accelerate growth and create jobs across Leeds City Region.

The contract for the road improvements has been awarded to Howard Civil Engineering - which is also undertaking the major works on the Hard Ings road in Keighley - and people may start to see members of the team on site before the main works start to carry out enabling works and surveying work.

The Council has written to residents and businesses in the area to let them know that the work is due to restart and they will be in further contact with those who are directly affected by the work.

Howard Civil Engineering’s community liaison officer, Sophie Henderson, said: “This is a complex scheme that needs to be managed sympathetically with regards to the many interfaces with residents, businesses and local service providers. As successfully achieved on the Hard Ings Road improvement scheme, liaising with our stakeholders throughout the contract will remain our number one priority.

“We are working closely with City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council to ensure members of the local community remain well-informed of how the scheme and how it will develop. This will include fortnightly e-newsletters from Howard Civil Engineering, updating local residents and businesses on anticipated roadworks, traffic management and potential delays.”

Due to Covid-19 being still in circulation and to make sure those on site can work safely and stick to the latest guidelines on social distancing, the Council says work on site will need to be done differently.

For more information on the improvement scheme visit www.bradford.gov.uk and search for Harrogate Road. To register to receive regular updates about these major improvement works visit: http://www.howardcivileng.co.uk/greengates-junction/.