Bradford Council, in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, have launched a public consultation on the next stage of proposals to improve travel along the Thornton Road corridor.
The Thornton Road Improvements Project aims to make it safer and easier to get between Bradford city centre and areas to the west of the city as well as improving the Thornton Road corridor with new trees, planting and landscaping.
The project brings together the previously consulted-on ‘West Bradford Cycle Superhighway Extension’ and the ‘Four Lane Ends Corridor Improvement Scheme’, as well as additional improvements to the area as a whole.
Funding to deliver the project comes from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and has been ringfenced, so Bradford Council is only able to spend it on transport schemes like this one and not day to day Council services.
The first phase of the scheme from Bradford city centre to the junction of West Park Road on Thornton Road is currently under construction and is due to be completed in August.
If approved, the project would add the following improvements along the Thornton Road corridor:
- A ‘CYCLOPS’ junction at the intersection of Thornton Road / Chat Hill Road which have separated facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and road users with crossings over each road at the junction.
- Improved pedestrian and cycle crossings.
- A total of 5.5km of cycleway in each direction along Thornton Road. Space for the cycleway would be taken from the wide verges and pavements and some road narrowing – no lane reductions will be needed.
- Enhanced public spaces with new landscaping and planting.
- Upgraded bus stops, including ‘bus stop bypasses’, where the cycle route goes behind the bus stops to separate cyclists from road traffic and pedestrians waiting for the bus.
- Changes to some parking arrangements and side roads.
- Cycle parking along Thornton Road.
The consultation also includes an updated design for a further ‘CYCLOPS’ junction at the Thornton Road and Cemetery Road junction to be delivered separately. The redesigned junction aims to improve safety for people who walk, wheel and cycle by providing separated crossing facilities, as well as improving the journey experience for bus and car users through the busy junction.
The proposed changes, will help make Thornton Road safer and convenient for all road users, as well as making the corridor a more attractive environment with additional planting and landscaping.
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “This project will provide west Bradford with the high-quality cycling infrastructure it currently lacks in addition to making improvements to both pedestrian and public transport infrastructure.
“Making these changes and the additional planting and landscaping will also make the corridor a nicer and more pleasant place to spend time.
“I hope people take the time to find out about the proposals and feedback.”
Cllr Peter Carlill, Deputy Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee, said: “We’re committed to making it easier and safer for people to get around in a better-connected West Yorkshire.
“It’s really important that we get feedback to help shape these plans, so they work for everyone that travels on this route.”
To ensure that the proposals meet the needs of the local community, a consultation is being held on the plans until Monday 21 July 2025.
An online survey and more information about the plans are available on the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Your Voice website at: www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/ThorntonRoad
Participants will also have the chance to ask questions about the proposals and have their say directly at a public drop-in session which will be held at Fairweather Event Hall, 910 Thornton Rd, Bradford, BD8 0JG, on Thursday 3 July between 2-7pm.
Members of the public can also contact the project team on-demand through the following channels:
- Email: thornton.road@future-bradford.co.uk
- Freephone: 0808 196 9119 (9am-5pm, Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays)
- Freepost: Freepost BFD Highways (no stamp needed)
Once the consultation closes, the public’s feedback will be reviewed and a summary report published online. This will help shape the final version of the scheme which will form part of the Full Business Case (FBC) submission to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
If approved, construction is expected to begin towards the end of 2025 and take approximately 18 months to complete. The project team will keep local businesses and residents informed and updated ahead of any traffic management and disruption at each stage project.
