£13m plan to improve roads between Dewsbury, Mirfield and Leeds

Plans for a £13m roads scheme to better connect Dewsbury and Mirfield with Leeds are set to go before regional decision-makers next week.
Junction of the A644 and A638 in DewsburyJunction of the A644 and A638 in Dewsbury
Junction of the A644 and A638 in Dewsbury

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) investment committee will hear plans which officers hope will ease congestion and encourage eco-friendly travel along the Mirfield to Dewsbury to Leeds corridor.

Plans include junction upgrades, cycle and bus lanes and crossings, which transport chiefs claim will help to alleviate commuter traffic on existing roads to the south of Leeds.

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A report by WYCA officers stated: “The Mirfield to Dewsbury to Leeds (M2D2L) corridor forms a key route running through the heart of West Yorkshire and serving a direct catchment of around 600,000 residents as well as several existing and planned major employment, retail and housing sites.

“Significant sections of the A644, A638 and A653 are congested during the morning and afternoon peaks and often within the inter peak period, which also leads to poor bus service reliability and journey times along the corridor.”

The report states more than two-and-a-half miles of new and improved cycle infrastructure will help to encourage commuter trips by cycling along the corridor.

Nearly two miles of new bus lanes will “improve journey reliability for buses operating along the corridor”, and encourage more people to use public transport.

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Around 27 new or improved signal-controlled pedestrian crossings or zebra crossings will also be installed.

The estimated cost of the scheme is around £13.1m, with construction hoped to start on the scheme in March 2022. It is hoped the improvements will be finished by April 2024.

The report concludes: “A strong, strategic fit with national, regional and local policies has been comprehensively presented.

“The scheme total is £13.15m, with value for money presented as very high.”

The group will meet on Wednesday, April 7.

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