A58/A672 and A646/A6033 improvements

Key details

Improvements to key routes in Calderdale to reduce the build-up of traffic, reduce congestion, reduce accidents, and support economic growth.

Current status

Concept (Completed)
Development (Completed)
Construction (In Progress)
Evaluation (Pending)

Plans

We’re delivering two separate projects designed to:

  • deliver an 8% reduction in journey times overall and a 12% reduction for bus journeys
  • reduce accidents by 10%
  • improve facilities for walkers and cyclists
  • improve access to Halifax from the southwest 
  • make the area more attractive for future investment
  • improve quality of life for residents
  • boost the visitor economy by better linking neighbouring areas

A58/A672

The A58/A672 project covers an area running from Rishworth to King Cross in Halifax, including Sowerby Bridge and Ripponden.

Interventions along the route include:

Sowerby Bridge

We’re taking down the market and the creating a new multi-purpose public space in the centre of Sowerby Bridge, equipped with infrastructure for pop up market stalls and events, new street furniture and ramped cycle routes to make access easier.

On Wharf Street, we’re changing the layout of the road, relocating the bus layby, adding disabled parking spaces, adding a new loading bay, adding a parallel crossing for pedestrians and cyclists, widening the footpath, and removing on-street parking.

There will be upgrades to the car park on West Street, and new double yellow lines along the length of Holmes Road.

Rishworth

In Rishworth we’re going to formalise parking spots already in use, adding parking restrictions, and creating a new puffin crossing outside Rishworth School.

Ripponden

In Ripponden we will be widening the footpath on Elland Road at the junction with Halifax Road and moving the bus stop from the top of Elland Road to just south of Bridge End.

Bull Green to King Cross

We’re building a new cycle route, adding wayfinding signage for cyclists and a new parallel crossing near the junction of King Cross Road and Haugh Shaw Road. We’re upgrading the staggered crossing between Swires Road and Norfolk Place, replacing it with a direct crossing.

We’ll also be installing Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI) to some bus stops and refreshing white and yellow lines in the area.

A646/A6033

Hebden Bridge

We’re working on the A646 through Hebden Bridge to make travel safer for people walking and cycling. The new layout will also help to make sure local bus services can run on time.

We are going to remove some on-street parking between Station Road and Fallingroyd and create a new westbound cycle lane. We’ll also remove some parking spaces on Market Street to make it easier for bus services to travel through Hebden Bridge. Parking spaces have been created at Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd railway stations for rail users and a new car park will also be created at Stubbing Holme.

We will make the footway between Albert Street and Commercial Street wider and make improvements to the pedestrian crossing at Station Road.

Todmorden

We’re building a new puffin crossing on the A646 behind Todmorden Town Hall.

We will be relaying Water Street with stone setts and flags to complement the remainder of the street and partially pedestrianising it to restrict access for vehicles during the daytime.

A new zebra crossing on Halifax Road to the east of Bridge Street (replacing the current Brook Street crossing) and a new signalised crossing from the Town Hall to the bottom of Ridge Road.

Around the Halifax Road/Burnley Road/Rochdale Road roundabout we’re going to change the layout of the traffic islands.

Realigning of the kerb line outside the Town Hall and repaving in Yorkshire stone.

New restrictions will be put in place to reduce access to Bridge Street and Water Street between Halifax Road and Dale Street. School Lane will be changed to a two-way layout between Brook Street and Myrtle Street, and the pedestrianised crossing of Halifax Road at Bond Street will be removed. We will remove access to Bond Street from Halifax Road, and the bus stop will be removed from outside the betting shop to a position in front of the School Lane car park.

A zebra crossing will be put in place outside of the Town Hall to link Bridge Street and Water Street.

We are going to install a new puffin crossing between Hey Street and Sanworth Street, and extending the area covered by the 20mph speed limit.

On the station approach we’re preparing the area to accommodate electric vehicle charging points. 

Sowerby Bridge

We’re creating a new zebra crossing on Burnley Road between Water Hill Lane and Blackwall Lane.

Luddenden Foot

We’re installing a new puffin crossing on Burnley Road at Luddenden Foot Academy, widening the footway, and updating parking restrictions.

Bolton Brow to King Cross

We’re creating cycle routes between Rochdale Road/Burnley Road at King Cross and Bolton Brow. This project includes changes to the Skircoat Moor Road junction at Rochdale Road and Burnley Road to widen the approach the signals at King Cross, and the removal of the mini roundabout at Free School Lane.

Mytholmroyd

We will create a new route for people travelling walking, cycling, or wheeling across the edge of Burnley Road Academy playing fields to connect Burnley Road with the Rochdale Canal.

We have replaced Mytholmroyd footbridge located just to the west of New Road. Work started in August 2023, and the bridge was opened in March 2024. The footbridge needed to be replaced as it had come to the end of its design life and repairing the structure would be false economy.

New Road Bridge is a listed structure. The design for the new footbridge complies with planning permission and listed building consent.

The scheme of works includes the replacement of the bus shelter in the centre of Mytholmroyd. A new enclosed bus shelter with a green roof and real time passenger information (RTPI) are due to be installed and operational in April 2024. We’ll also be refreshing white and yellow lines in the area.

 

Benefits

Journey times

Better journey time reliability, particularly for public transport

Peak and off-peak

Reduced variability between peak and off-peak times for journeys to and from Halifax

Congestion

Congestion will be reduced

Employment and housing

The scheme will also facilitate business and housing growth by unlocking sites proposed along the corridor in the Calderdale Local Plan

Sustainability

Safer environment for walking and cycling

Network connectivity

Walking and cycling networks will be better connected

Air quality

Air quality will be maintained or improved

Safety

Our target is to reduce collisions by 10% across the schemes by 2022

Progress

21 March 2024

We've completed the project to build a new footbridge across the River Calder in Mytholmroyd.

The new concrete, glass and steel structure at the junction of New Road and Burnley Road has a waterproof, anti-slip surface, and complements the historic Grade II listed road bridge nearby. It replaces the old footbridge that was beyond repair.

Read: Best foot forward as new bridge opens in Mytholmroyd.

6 November 2023

We have started work to widen the footpath outside Luddendenfoot Academy and install the new puffin crossing. In December we will install antiskid surfacing and add road markings.

August 2023

We've started work on replacing the pedestrian footbridge crossing the River Calder at New Road in Mytholmroyd.  It is expected that the new footbridge will be ready in January 2024.   

June 2023

We’ve started work at the Heptonstall Road junction in Hebden Bridge. Here we are widening the footways on the southern side of Bridge Lanes and outside the Fox and Goose and making improvements to crossing facilities.

October 2022

Improvements continue on two key routes in Calderdale. Work started earlier this year in the Todmorden area to accommodate improved pedestrian facilities, junction improvements and improvements to paving and bus stop facilities. 

A further programme of work is also scheduled along the A58/A672 from Junction 22 of the M62 to King Cross in Halifax. The next steps in this programme will involve the demolition of the former Sowerby Bridge Market. This is due to start on Monday 17 October and should take around three weeks to complete.

June 2022

Work has started in Todmorden to install a new crossing point outside Lidl on Halifax Road. These works are expected to last until 28 June 2022.

Work on the islands, kerb lines and footpaths near the roundabout at the junction of Rochdale Road and Halifax Road is underway. These works are expected to be complete by 20 July 2022.

In Halifax work will start between Bull Green and King Cross on 27 June 2022. Here we are installing a cycle lane on King Cross Street from the Arden Road junction to King Cross Road. We will work in phases to keep disruption to a minimum. Phase 1 should be complete by 4 October 2022.

16 May 2022

Work has started on Burnley Road where we will be realigning the kerbs outside the Town Hall, remodelling the 3 traffic islands near the roundabout and installing a signalised crossing.

These works are expected to complete by 17 June 2022. 

25 April 2022

Our contractors Colas have started works in Todmorden. 

The streets around Todmorden Town Hall will be re-laid with heritage paving and the junctions will be remodelled improve conditions for people walking. We will improve footpaths and bus stops.

The timing of the works in Todmorden is being programmed to reduce disruption. Traffic management will be in place when and where necessary and there will be temporary closures to some streets.

Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.
Work has started on Water Street. These works are likely to be complete by 17 June 2022.

August 2021

Full Business Case + Costs (FBC+C) approved.

September 2020

Full Business Case (FBC) approved.

May 2020

Submission of Full Business Case (FBC) to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

January / February 2020

Follow up engagement exercise with members of the public and local businesses.

The feedback from this exercise allowed us to progress the designs ready for Full Business Case (FBC) submission.

The plans and outcome report are available through the Your Voice website

August / September 2018

Engagement exercise with members of the public and local businesses.

Following the engagement exercise with the public and local businesses in August and September 2018, feedback was analysed and the plans were further developed.

The plans and outcome report are available through the Your Voice website

 

Funding

This project was made possible through funding from:

  • West Yorkshire Combined Authority | Tracy Brabin Mayor of West Yorkshire
  • Northern Powerhouse