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Long-awaited crossing scheme to be split in two

Colin Smith/Geograph The centre of Silsden in Bradford in West Yorkshire, with a large stone building on the left, The Punch Bowl pub on the right and a maroon car driving on the road between the two. Several stone buildings are in the background and a flowerbed with a low wall with the sign 'Wesley Place' is in the foreground.Colin Smith/Geograph
A pedestrian crossing linking Silsden (pictured) and Steeton has been discussed for more than a decade

A long-awaited scheme to improve pedestrian access over a busy road in Bradford will have to be delivered in two phases due to spiralling costs.

The planned project to link Steeton and Silsden by a crossing over the A629 dual carriageway is expected to cost more than £24m.

The crossing plans date back over 12 years, with a meeting of West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) set to discuss the scheme at a meeting on Thursday.

Members will be told that it will progress, but will have to be split into two sections as there isn’t enough available money to pay for it, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Phase one would include a new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the A629, plus a toucan crossing at the A6034, and cost almost £13m.

The second phase would include additional pedestrian and cycle paths between the two areas and more road crossings, but would not be delivered until further funding becomes available.

Google A629 dual carriageway which separates the villages of Steeton and Silsden in Bradford. Fields to the left - hills beyond, road sign with roundabout ahead, road with yellow lines to slow for roundabout, telegraph wires across the road.Google
The two areas are currently separated by the busy A629 dual carriageway

Work was expected to start in April 2026 and be completed by April 2027.

The WYCA report said the bridge plans would address "a significant issue of community severance between Steeton and Silsden in Bradford, caused by the A629 dual carriageway, which features very high daily traffic flows and a 70mph speed limit."

The ward's Green Party councillors said local residents had been "promised" the bridge to connect the two areas for many years.

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