Thornton Road Improvements Project
Consultation has concluded
This engagement has now closed, thank you for taking part.
The responses are now being analysed and the outcome report will be published once complete.
Bradford Council, in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority is consulting on proposals for the Thornton Road Improvements Project.
Your feedback will help shape the final designs. Find out more about the project below and share your views through our online survey.
About the project
The Thornton Road Improvements Project is a series of walking, cycling, landscaping and junction improvements to the Thornton Road corridor.
It includes the previously consulted on ‘West Bradford Cycle Superhighway Phase 2’ and the ‘Four Lane Ends Corridor Improvement Scheme’ as well as additional improvements to the area as a whole.
The funding we have received to deliver this project has come from central government and has been ringfenced, so we are only able to spend it on walking, wheeling and cycling transport projects like this one. We would not be able to spend any of the funding on day to day Council services, like bin collections or social care.
An image of a cycle lane and environmental improvements in Bradford City CentreWhy are these changes being proposed?
These changes are being proposed to:
Provide West Bradford with the high-quality cycling infrastructure it currently lacks.
Make Thornton Road safer and convenient for all road users.
Make the Thornton Road corridor nicer and more pleasant to spend time on with additional planting and landscaping.
The project would also complement other major projects across the city, including the Clean Air Zone, the recently transformed city centre, and wider transport upgrades like the Manchester Road Bus Improvements and the Wakefield Road and Tong Street A650 Connect scheme.
What is being proposed in the project?
The project would deliver:
New segregated cycleways along Thornton Road, delivering 2.9km eastbound and 2.6km westbound of dedicated cycle space. The cycleways would be mostly one-way on each side of the road, with a short two-way section around the Four Lane Ends junction.
These would connect to Phase 1 of the West Bradford Cycle Superhighway Extension, enabling cyclists to seamlessly continue their journey, and making cycling more attractive, reliable, and safer.
Phase 1 is due to be completed in autumn 2025.
New and upgraded crossings and junctions along Thornton Road to improve safety for people who walk, wheel and cycle. By ‘wheeling’ we mean scooters, wheelchairs, mobility aids and people with pushchairs.
In total, there would be:
- Four new formal pedestrian crossings (a mixture of signalised and parallel crossings).
- 11 new cycle crossings.
- 13 improved signalised pedestrian crossings.
- 13 junctions with improved cycle facilities.
A parallel crossing is a zebra crossing where people who walk and wheel are separated from people who cycle, giving all users the same priority over cars but separating them to enhance safety and convenience.
Two new ‘CYCLOPS’ junctions at Thornton Road/Cemetery Road/Allerton Road (Four Lane Ends) and Thornton Road/Chat Hill Road/School Green. These junctions separate people walking, wheeling, and cycling from vehicles, significantly improving safety for all road users – a full description can be found further down this webpage.
Enhanced public spaces with additional trees, plants, and flowers planted along the corridor. While up to 29 trees would need to be removed to accommodate the project, 95 trees would be planted alongside landscaping improvements, helping to create a greener, more attractive environment.
Changes to bus stops at 13 locations along Thornton Road in order to improve safety, convenience and accessibility. The vast majority of changed bus stops would only need to be moved a few meters, except for the westbound bus stop at Rhodesway, which would need to be moved up to 40 meters. At some bus stops, we would create 'bus stop bypasses' where cyclists are routed behind the bus stop, separating different road users.
Changes to side roads and junctions to improve traffic flow and make crossing safer and easier for people who walk, wheel and cycle. This includes narrowing junctions and creating continuous footways where possible, stopping up Vine Terrace East, making a section of School Green one-way northbound, and banning certain left turns at the Cemetery Road/Allerton Road junction.
Changes to parking arrangements along the route, including resurfacing outside the shops near Leaventhorpe Lane and adjustments to and formalisation of unrestricted parking areas.
Some enforcement of dropped kerbs and driveways installed without planning permission along Thornton Road. Where dropped kerbs and driveways have been installed without relevant planning permissions and cannot be accommodated by the project, enforcement action would need to be taken.
You can view the proposals in more detail by viewing our maps, linked below. These show precisely what measures are being proposed and where.
Please see our Frequently Asked Questions section on this page for more detailed background to the project.
Have your say on these proposals here |
CYCLOPS junctions:
CYCLOPS (Cycle Optimised Protected Signals) junctions completely separate people walking, wheeling and cycling from vehicles to reduce the risk of conflict or collisions. By ‘wheeling’ we mean scooters, wheelchairs, mobility aids and people with pushchairs.
The main difference between the CYCLOPS junction and a traditional junction is that cyclists are offered a safer route around the junction, rather than through it.
For other road users there isn’t much change, as the junction works in the same way as other signalised crossroads.
A CYCLOPS junction works as follows:
- Pedestrians cross the junction as normal.
- To the outside of the pedestrian crossing is a circular cycleway, separated from the pedestrian crossing. This allows cyclists to navigate the crossing without risk of harm to pedestrians. Cyclists travel on one direction around the cross junction only, in a clockwise direction.
- The cycleway acts like a roundabout with signal-controlled crossings, allowing cyclists to navigate around the junction or turn right while not being restricted by cars or pedestrians.
- Motorised traffic stops at the lights whilst cyclists and pedestrians have their green light signal and once pedestrians and cyclists have passed, motorised traffic will continue once the green light shows for vehicle traffic.
You can view an image of what a CYCLOPS junction looks like when it has been constructed here. You can view a video here. There is also an existing CYCLOPS junction in Bradford city centre, at the junction of Well Street/Hall Ings.
An image of a recently completed CYCLOPS in ManchesterWhat changes have been made to the proposals?
As a result of the previous consultations on the proposals and inflationary pressure affecting the cost of building materials, we have made a series of changes to the original scheme we proposed.
Key changes include:
Route ends at Spring Head Road instead of continuing into Thornton village, though a future extension remains a possibility.
Better crossings for pedestrians and cyclists to improve safety and access.
More cycle parking added along the route.
Some bus stops moved to improve safety, convenience and accessibility for bus users.
Have your say on the proposals
Have your say on these proposals here |
We want to know what you think about the Thornton Road Improvements Project. Your feedback will help us to refine the proposals before they are submitted for approval.
The consultation period on the Thornton Road Improvements Project will run from Wednesday 25 June 2025 until Wednesday 23 July 2025.
Complete the feedback survey:
Have your say by completing our feedback survey, linked here and at the bottom of this page: https://www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/thorntonroad/surveys/thornton-road-improvements-project
You can also contact us to request a paper version of the survey, or download one to print from the sidebar of this page, and post it to us for no cost at FREEPOST BFD Highways.
Come to our drop-in event:
We are holding a community drop-in event, where you can meet the project team who are working on the project, learn more about the proposals and share your feedback and suggestions.
The event will be held on Thursday 3 July between 2pm - 7pm at Fairweather Event Hall, 910 Thornton Road, Bradford, BD8 0JG.
You don’t need to book or register, just drop in at any time during event opening hours.
Contact us:
Freephone: 0808 196 9119
Freepost: Freepost BFD Highways (no stamp required)
Our channels are monitored Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, excluding bank holidays.
What happens next?
Once this consultation closes, we’ll carefully review all feedback and publish a summary report online.
Your input will help shape the final version of the scheme.
If approved, construction is expected to begin towards the end of 2025 and take approximately 18 months to complete
FAQs
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General questions
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Specific measures and impact on transport
- What would the Thornton Road Improvements Project include?
- What improvements would be made for cyclists?
- What improvements would be made for people who walk and wheel?
- What do you mean by ‘wheeling’?
- What impact would the project have on car users?
- Would parking be affected along Thornton Road?
- Would the cycle lanes affect traffic flow on Thornton Road?
- What changes are being made to side roads?
- What is a continuous footway?
- Would the dropped kerbs and driveways that have been installed at properties on Thornton Road be affected?
- Would trees be removed as part of the scheme?
- What is a CYCLOPS junction and where would they be?
- What changes would be made to bus stops?
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Funding questions
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Public consultation and next steps
