A62 to Cooper Bridge Corridor Improvement Scheme

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

Update August 2023

The A62 Cooper Bridge Corridor Improvement scheme is currently developing the early stages of its business case.

As a part of this, and for future business case development, further public consultation would take place.

In terms of timescales, should the future business case be accepted, work could start on site in late 2025.

***

Public consultation for the A62 to Cooper Bridge Corridor Improvement Programme Scheme took place from 7 June - 18 July 2021. A report has been produced that includes all the feedback received during the consultation period. The report can be found here.

Next steps

A copy of our consultation report, summarising the response to our latest consultation can be found here, we are now using the feedback received to influence our designs, where possible, before submitting our Outline Business Case to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Subject to securing approval and the necessary funding to proceed with the scheme we will then develop our detailed design and planning application.

We will hold another public consultation on our final designs before we submit our planning application. Subject to securing all necessary consents and funding we expect to begin construction in 2024.

If you haven’t done so already we encourage you to sign-up on Your Voice to be kept informed of future activity.

The information below was presented during the public consultation (7 June - 18 July 2021).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The story so far….

In December 2018 we launched a public engagement on initial proposals to construct a link road between the A62 at Bradley and the A644 Wakefield Road, to reduce congestion in the Cooper Bridge area.

Whilst there was support for those proposals, there were also concerns raised about some elements of the designs and the wider environmental impacts of the plans. Additionally, since then Kirklees Council has declared a climate emergency putting an even greater focus on the environmental impact of any plans.

So, since early 2019 we have been reviewing how we can develop our designs to best balance these issues and address the transport problems in this location.

This has included considering new options which do not provide a link road, but instead include making improvements to the existing network to reduce congestion whilst minimising the environmental impacts.

Cooper Bridge Junction

Congestion, long journey times and poor air quality is currently experienced in the Cooper Bridge area and on the A644 and A62 nearby. The A62 and A644 have been identified as key routes which, through improvements, could support the creation of jobs in the area, relieve congestion, reduce journey times for general traffic, and improve pedestrian and cycling accessibility.

Kirklees Council, in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Calderdale Council, has considered four options aimed at enhancing the existing network at Cooper Bridge and Bradley junctions to improve journey times and reliability along the A62 and A644 routes.

We have now identified our preferred option and would like to hear your thoughts on our proposals.

Our plans aim to:

  • relieve congestion and improve journey times and reliability
  • support economic and housing growth
  • improve road safety
  • improve pedestrian and cyclist facilities to encourage more use
  • support the improvement of air quality

Preferred Option

To help us identify a preferred option we have considered the likely effects of four options. These assessments have helped us to understand how the different options might improve journey times and impact the local environment. Using this information, we have now selected a preferred option. You can view plans of our preferred option here (opens in a new page).

The options we considered were similar due to the physical constraints in the area. Our preferred option includes a number of interventions that were included in all options, these include:

  • widening of the A62 Leeds Road between Bradley junction and Oak Road
  • widening of Colne Bridge Road on the approach to Bradley junction
  • widening of the A644 Wakefield Road on the approach to M62 junction 25
  • improving signal timings and changes to lane markings and permitted movements at Bradley junction
  • changing Oak Road to one-way
  • improving pedestrian and cycle facilities throughout, including new signal-controlled crossings and segregated cycle facilities on Leeds Road, Oak Road, Cooper Bridge Road and at Cooper Bridge junction

In addition to the above changes, our preferred option also includes:

  • creating a new three-armed roundabout at Cooper Bridge junction with dedicated left turn links
  • new landscaped areas and sustainable drainage systems
  • widening of Cooper Bridge Road between Bradley and Cooper Bridge junctions to provide two lanes of traffic in each direction

We produced the proposed indicative cross sections drawing which can be viewed here (opens in a new page).

Discounted Options

In addition to our preferred option, we considered a new junction layout at Cooper Bridge instead of a roundabout and this plan can be viewed here (opens in a new page). We also explored providing improvements at Cooper Bridge and Bradley junctions without widening Cooper Bridge Road (these were options 3 and 4 - these plans have not been provided here as they are very similar). However, our assessments showed the widening of Cooper Bridge Road helps to better address the transport problems in this area therefore these options have been discounted.

HAVE YOUR SAY

You can share your views on our plans by completing the survey below.

We have provided a list of FAQs to answer your questions, but if you have any other questions, you can submit them on this page and the project team will respond.

Alternatively, you can join our virtual event to hear a presentation from the project team. Please visit www.youtube.com and search ‘Kirklees Live’ at 5.30pm on 23 June 2021 to watch and ask questions. Unable to join online? Please call MetroLine on 0113 245 7676 to make arrangements to join by phone. You can also watch the video later on our You Tube channel at www.youtube.com/user/Kirkleesvideos.

Contact us via

This consultation will close on 18 July 2021.

Update August 2023

The A62 Cooper Bridge Corridor Improvement scheme is currently developing the early stages of its business case.

As a part of this, and for future business case development, further public consultation would take place.

In terms of timescales, should the future business case be accepted, work could start on site in late 2025.

***

Public consultation for the A62 to Cooper Bridge Corridor Improvement Programme Scheme took place from 7 June - 18 July 2021. A report has been produced that includes all the feedback received during the consultation period. The report can be found here.

Next steps

A copy of our consultation report, summarising the response to our latest consultation can be found here, we are now using the feedback received to influence our designs, where possible, before submitting our Outline Business Case to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Subject to securing approval and the necessary funding to proceed with the scheme we will then develop our detailed design and planning application.

We will hold another public consultation on our final designs before we submit our planning application. Subject to securing all necessary consents and funding we expect to begin construction in 2024.

If you haven’t done so already we encourage you to sign-up on Your Voice to be kept informed of future activity.

The information below was presented during the public consultation (7 June - 18 July 2021).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The story so far….

In December 2018 we launched a public engagement on initial proposals to construct a link road between the A62 at Bradley and the A644 Wakefield Road, to reduce congestion in the Cooper Bridge area.

Whilst there was support for those proposals, there were also concerns raised about some elements of the designs and the wider environmental impacts of the plans. Additionally, since then Kirklees Council has declared a climate emergency putting an even greater focus on the environmental impact of any plans.

So, since early 2019 we have been reviewing how we can develop our designs to best balance these issues and address the transport problems in this location.

This has included considering new options which do not provide a link road, but instead include making improvements to the existing network to reduce congestion whilst minimising the environmental impacts.

Cooper Bridge Junction

Congestion, long journey times and poor air quality is currently experienced in the Cooper Bridge area and on the A644 and A62 nearby. The A62 and A644 have been identified as key routes which, through improvements, could support the creation of jobs in the area, relieve congestion, reduce journey times for general traffic, and improve pedestrian and cycling accessibility.

Kirklees Council, in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Calderdale Council, has considered four options aimed at enhancing the existing network at Cooper Bridge and Bradley junctions to improve journey times and reliability along the A62 and A644 routes.

We have now identified our preferred option and would like to hear your thoughts on our proposals.

Our plans aim to:

  • relieve congestion and improve journey times and reliability
  • support economic and housing growth
  • improve road safety
  • improve pedestrian and cyclist facilities to encourage more use
  • support the improvement of air quality

Preferred Option

To help us identify a preferred option we have considered the likely effects of four options. These assessments have helped us to understand how the different options might improve journey times and impact the local environment. Using this information, we have now selected a preferred option. You can view plans of our preferred option here (opens in a new page).

The options we considered were similar due to the physical constraints in the area. Our preferred option includes a number of interventions that were included in all options, these include:

  • widening of the A62 Leeds Road between Bradley junction and Oak Road
  • widening of Colne Bridge Road on the approach to Bradley junction
  • widening of the A644 Wakefield Road on the approach to M62 junction 25
  • improving signal timings and changes to lane markings and permitted movements at Bradley junction
  • changing Oak Road to one-way
  • improving pedestrian and cycle facilities throughout, including new signal-controlled crossings and segregated cycle facilities on Leeds Road, Oak Road, Cooper Bridge Road and at Cooper Bridge junction

In addition to the above changes, our preferred option also includes:

  • creating a new three-armed roundabout at Cooper Bridge junction with dedicated left turn links
  • new landscaped areas and sustainable drainage systems
  • widening of Cooper Bridge Road between Bradley and Cooper Bridge junctions to provide two lanes of traffic in each direction

We produced the proposed indicative cross sections drawing which can be viewed here (opens in a new page).

Discounted Options

In addition to our preferred option, we considered a new junction layout at Cooper Bridge instead of a roundabout and this plan can be viewed here (opens in a new page). We also explored providing improvements at Cooper Bridge and Bradley junctions without widening Cooper Bridge Road (these were options 3 and 4 - these plans have not been provided here as they are very similar). However, our assessments showed the widening of Cooper Bridge Road helps to better address the transport problems in this area therefore these options have been discounted.

HAVE YOUR SAY

You can share your views on our plans by completing the survey below.

We have provided a list of FAQs to answer your questions, but if you have any other questions, you can submit them on this page and the project team will respond.

Alternatively, you can join our virtual event to hear a presentation from the project team. Please visit www.youtube.com and search ‘Kirklees Live’ at 5.30pm on 23 June 2021 to watch and ask questions. Unable to join online? Please call MetroLine on 0113 245 7676 to make arrangements to join by phone. You can also watch the video later on our You Tube channel at www.youtube.com/user/Kirkleesvideos.

Contact us via

This consultation will close on 18 July 2021.

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
We have created an extensive list of frequently asked questions and you can find these here (opens in a new page). However, if you have another question, please write it here and we will try to get a response back to you as soon as possible.

Please note that any question you ask will be visible to all visitors to this site, so please do not include any personal information - alternatively you can email us.
  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Please give me the numbers and percentage of traffic travelling east from the direction of the M62 which go to each of the 3 routes which come off the roundabout, ie toward Huddersfield, Mirfield and Leeds.

    Ken Smith asked almost 3 years ago

    Travel patterns do vary depending on the time of day amongst other factors, but presently approximately 37% of traffic from Wakefield Road travels on towards Three Nuns junction at Cooper Bridge and the remaining 63% (c. 500 vehicles) turns right towards Huddersfield in the morning peak period.  In the evening peak period the split is more equal with approximately 49% existing towards Three Nuns and 51% travelling towards Huddersfield.

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Having been outside and measured the distance that you’ve stated in your plans when you implement these changes I’m now going to be opening my car door into 40 mph traffic and not into the current cycle lane which is a buffer zone to the traffic. There are only a few cyclists on this route with plenty of opportunity for me and the other residents of Leeds road to get out of our vehicles. Do you think it’s a good idea to remove the cycle lane in its current form in the interest of safety of the local residents or are you (clearly) not bothered so long as your plans go through. So far no ones voice has been heard from what I can see as you lot certainly seem to have all the (wrong) answers b

    Mr C asked almost 3 years ago

    Design standards have changed since the advisory cycle lane was implemented on Leeds Road.  If we wish to make any changes to the cycling facilities on this stretch of road we will need to comply with latest standards, ideally providing segregated cycling facilities where possible.  When we engaged with the public in 2018 we showed a revised design with the cycle lane remaining on the same side as the properties between the footway and parking area, which complies with current standards.  Feedback received at that time from some residents reflected they didn’t want to cross a cycle lane to access their vehicles.  For that reason the latest designs have changed to show a two way segregated cycle lane on the opposite side of the road.    We are unable to provide a segregated facility on the outside of the parking area and the scheme aims to provide safer cycling facilities where possible to encourage use of sustainable modes of transport.

    The measurements presented at this stage are indicative, however our proposals comply with street parking facilities provided nationally and in this case provide a wider parking area than the minimum standards.

    The consultation which closed on the 18th July was an opportunity for people to share their views with us.  We will now review the feedback received to take account of those views where possible, we will consider the points you have raised as part of that work.

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Do any of your plans involve the changes to the allotments off Bradley Road?

    LB1 asked almost 3 years ago

    No there are no plans to make any changes to the allotments as part of the project.

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Our main goal in every action should be to tackle climate change and reduce emissions of CO2 if we want a future for our planet and for our kids. How do you think that increasing traffic by extending this road will contribute towards this goal?

    Vania asked almost 3 years ago

    Currently, year on year traffic growth is predicted to rise. Our preferred scheme seeks to tackle the issues of today whilst having one eye on the future. The move away from fossil based fuels to more environmental friendly power sources will still require road space. Currently we do not have a enough space in which to accommodate all modes of travel. In the future it is hoped that there will be a switch to more sustainable modes of travel in which case road space reallocation can be considered.

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    You state in the answer to my previous questions that traffic will be moved further away. Please can you clarify the distance it will move from and to and what this difference is?

    LB1 asked almost 3 years ago

    Your question doesn’t clarify the location you’re referring to and at this stage our design is at an outline stage, so exact measurements will be determined in the next stage of design once more detailed site surveys have been undertaken. However, in the case of Leeds Road where we are constructing a third lane which will move the traffic travelling in to Huddersfield away from the property frontages, the new centre line for that lane will be approximately 3.5m further away from the houses on that stretch of road.

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    What are you hoping to find out for a very limited range of questions in the questionnaire? How will this be a true representation when the questions only serve to ask “if things will improve” with your plans. These are very basic questions to a survey with very major implications. What do you hope to find out and how?

    LB1 asked almost 3 years ago

    The survey will help us to understand the profile of journeys and journey purpose for those who respond to the survey and collate consistent responses to gauge views on the changes proposed for all modes of transport within the scheme extents.

    A comments box is provided for anyone who wishes to provide additional feedback.

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    There was one opportunity for the public to speak with planners via a YouTube video that took place at 5.30pm one evening. Why haven’t there been more chances/times available to do this? You have effectively excluded all commuters and those that work by holding it once at this time. The last time there were planning consultations, the public were allowed to view plans over a much longer period and in person. This could have happened and been a covid safe event - why has it not?

    LB1 asked almost 3 years ago

    Unfortunately, due to the uncertainty and regularly changing government guidance regarding managing events during the pandemic it has not been possible for us to safely plan and hold face to face events during this consultation.  The risk of having to cancel events at short notice due to changing guidance or staff testing positive beforehand would have resulted in the public being unable to access the project team at all.  For these reasons an online live streamed event was provided instead, this is consistent with how the council has communicated key messages throughout the pandemic.    The event was held after working hours to allow people to view it live, but is available to be viewed afterwards for those who were unable to attend.  

    A six week period has been provided to allow ample opportunity for the public to access our materials and ask questions via the website if they were unable to attend the live event. This is consistent with our previous public consultation which was open for seven weeks (an extra week due to it being over the Christmas period).

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Not one of your responses for any of these questions asked, by myself or any other author, show ANY tangible benefits for any of the local residents on Leeds Road, Oak Road, Bradley Road or Brooklands. How are you meeting ANY of your objectives FULLY for your Kirklees residents?

    LB1 asked almost 3 years ago

    As explained in previous answers, our initial environmental assessments forecast an improvement in local air quality in the vicinity you are referring to.   Additionally, we will provide improved pedestrian and cycling facilities, with additional crossing facilities and improved signal timings to create a better experience for pedestrians particularly when crossing Bradley junction. We will also improve the Oak Road playground facilities as part of the scheme and create formal parking bays along both Leeds and Oak Road.

     The strategic aims of the scheme which are published on consultation page are the outcomes we aim to achieve by delivering the scheme to benefit both the Kirklees district and wider Leeds City Region.

     

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    If you are planning traffic lights at oak road to enable traffic to turn right from leeds road doesn't this just cancel out the delays you are trying to prevent when currently turning right into bradley road. It's just moving the issue further up leeds road

    KG1 asked almost 3 years ago

    The proposed signals at the junction with Leeds Road and Oak Road which will control the traffic travelling towards Huddersfield will only stop traffic infrequently (to allow traffic in/out of the cul-de-sac at the junction or for pedestrians/cyclist to cross) so there would be limited times when the traffic will be stationary.

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Is there an intention to prevent the traffic light Grand Prix from the lights at the Bradley junction inbound on Leeds Road by reducing the speed limit to a 30MPH and the introduction of a safety camera?

    not very happy with this proposal asked almost 3 years ago

    At this stage we don’t intend to reduce the speed limit on Leeds Road or install a safety camera.

    Kirklees install safety cameras at high risk sites, where there is a history of personal injury collisions occurring, where speed has been identified as a causation factor. The aim is to preventing further collisions / injuries occurring. There is currently a criteria in place for assessment of sites, which is undertaken in Highways Safety, and ratified by the West Yorkshire Casualty Prevention Partnership who manage all West Yorkshire safety cameras.

    This approach is in line with the Partnership strategy, DfT and Government Guidance, and the criteria can be found: www.safetycameraswestyorkshire.co.uk/frequently-asked-questions/camera-equipment-and-site.

Page last updated: 07 Aug 2023, 02:45 PM