Have your say on huge £13m road project improving links between Dewsbury and Leeds

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Kirklees Council and Leeds City Council have been working in partnership to develop proposals along the A644 and A653 roads between Mirfield, Dewsbury and Leeds.

The proposals include new cycle tracks, pedestrian crossings and footway improvements, bus lanes, bus super-stops and junction upgrades.

Councillor Kim Groves, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee, said: “We are pleased to be working in partnership with Kirklees Council and Leeds City Council on this major investment in sustainable transport, which will significantly improve the connections to the public transport network for these local communities and encourage more people to travel by bike or on foot.

“By providing more sustainable travel options, these proposals will help improve air quality and emissions in line with our aim of tackling the climate emergency.”

The proposals aim to:

improve travel opportunities through providing alternatives to car travel,

improve journey time reliability of bus services;

Encourage more sustainable modes of travel through walking, cycling and public transport.

Enhance connections between local communities and key destinations.

The consultation will help inform which proposals form the proposed £13 million scheme, which is to be funded with £12.5 million through the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund and £500,000 Section 106 funding.

Subject to consultation feedback, the list of design options will be reviewed and shortlisted and the final scheme could be onsite in early 2022. Future proposals (subject to funding) along the corridor will consider improvements at other sections of the route.

The Mirfield to Dewsbury to Leeds (M2D2L) route runs through the heart of West Yorkshire and serves a direct catchment of around 600,000 residents.

Coun Peter McBride, Kirklees Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Regeneration said: “As a council we remain committed to our climate emergency agenda, and making it easier to travel around Kirklees and into neighbouring areas by bus, train, car or on foot is a big part of that.

"However, these proposed changes will make a difference to all road users, by improving one of our busiest routes, reducing congestion and making it safer. If possible we will look to hold drop in events towards the end of the consultation period, should public health advice make this possible. In the meantime, I would encourage you to view the plans on line and share your thoughts on the Your Voice website.”

The route serves key destinations for employment, education, retail and leisure with planned developments coming forward over the next 15 years.

The proposals are broken down into six sections spanning the length of the route:

Mirfield to Ravensthorpe on the A644

Ravensthorpe to Dewsbury on the A644

Dewsbury Town Centre including the Ring Road

Shaw Cross (Leeds Rd/Challenge Way Junction)

Tingley to White Rose on the A653

White Rose to Dewsbury Road

This work is part of Connecting Leeds, the long-term transport strategy for Leeds City Council. It aims to improve all aspects of transport and travel in the city, and connecting to the wider Leeds City Region.

Coun Lisa Mulherin, Leeds City Council’s Executive Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainable Development said: “Developing better public transport, cycling and walking routes are an essential part of our Connecting Leeds strategy. This is key to our aims of improving travel options and reducing carbon emissions for the people living and working in Leeds.

“These proposals were under development prior to the covid-19 pandemic though feedback from our covid-19 transport consultations have shown support for this work too. They provide new dedicated facilities for walking and cycling, between White Rose and Tingley, plus new bus priority lanes and links. The project will enhance segregated walking and cycling routes between Tingley, Morley and Beeston to Leeds City Centre and the White Rose. And also join up with the soon to be constructed CityConnect route on Dewsbury Road.

“With the climate emergency and covid-19 economic recovery, it’s more important than ever we can invest in projects like this, so we can help connect people to jobs, leisure and other services in ways which bring public health benefits and meet our wider ambitions.”