A629 phase 4 walking and cycling Halifax - Huddersfield

Plans

Calderdale Council, Kirklees Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority have developed a series of improvements along the A629 route from Halifax to Huddersfield.

The aim of this scheme is to provide enhanced and safer accessibility to Halifax and Huddersfield by improving walking, wheeling, cycling and bus travel along the route.

We are proposing to:

• Create and improve cycle routes between Halifax and Huddersfield
• Create better connections to Calderdale and Kirklees hospitals, Halifax, Huddersfield and Elland railway stations and town centres.
• Create new green ways 
• Improve bus journey times
• Add real time passenger information on bus routes along the A629 corridor
• Add bus infrastructure to allow bus operators to introduce an express service between Huddersfield and Halifax.
• Improved crossing facilities for pedestrians and cyclists at Southgate in Elland
• Add new crossing facilities for walking, wheeling and cycling
• Improve journey times through West Vale and Elland
• Improve walking, wheeling, and cycling links to local communities and amenities.
• Consider variable message signs (VMS) at strategic locations 

This project will complement four other A629 improvement schemes:

Phase 1a – A629 Salterhebble to Shaw Hill (construction complete)
Phase 1b – A629 Calder and Hebble junction (construction started)
Phase 2 – A629 Halifax town centre (currently in development)
Phase 5 - A629 Halifax Road (currently in development)

Think you know Elland? Think again.

Benefits

Economic growth

The project will improve access to Halifax and Huddersfield from the M62, encouraging investment and enabling access to land for housing and employment developments in Calderdale and Kirklees.

Sustainability

Improving the bus corridor to encourage more users and significantly upgrading walking and cycling routes will make these active modes more popular for leisure and commuting. 

Safety

Improved cycle and pedestrian routes will make for safer journeys.

Journey times 

Reduced congestion along the route will lead to improved journey times for all modes of transport.

Cleaner environment

Investment in walking, cycling and public transport will encourage sustainable travel modes, leading to fewer emissions and reduced congestion.

Progress

4 November 2022

Calderdale Council faces severe financial pressures which will have an impact on delivery of proposed development projects across the borough: Impact of national financial crisis on Calderdale projects.

March 2022

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) have published the report on the public consultation held in October and November 2021. It is available now on Your Voice: A629 Phase 4 Public Consultation Report.

October 2021

We have made a number of changes to the proposals since the consultation in 2019. The updated proposals are now available. Between Tuesday 26 October 2021 and midnight on Tuesday 23 November 2021, we are asking for your feedback on the latest designs.

Your views are important as we shape designs, so please take this opportunity to let us know what you think.

We will use the feedback we receive to refine the proposals before we appoint a contractor to build the scheme.

We hope to begin construction in 2022.

May 2021

Preliminary designs are being prepared. We are planning to share them for consultation in Autumn 2021. We will use feedback from the next consultation to ensure that the plans continue to reflect the needs of our stakeholders, and to inform the detailed designs ahead of construction.

September 2020

Mott MacDonald are appointed as consultants on the project, working with us to progress the proposals to Full Business Case (FBC). The FBC will include a detailed design that incorporates the feedback received through the stakeholder and public consultation in late 2018 and early 2019.

July 2019

The Outline Business Case for the project was approved by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.