Kirklees Council’s Highways Capital Plan for 2024-26 has been agreed by its Cabinet this week.
The plan details £41 million of investment over two years and covers all aspects of highways essential works. It includes road surfacing and potholes; street lighting; structures; road safety; flood management and drainage; traffic signals; car parking and cycling facilities, and public transport provision.
In addition to the capital investment, the Department for Transport (DfT) has awarded the council £500,000 from the Green Light Fund for traffic signal improvements. Along with £875,000 from the City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) for the Kirklees Speed Limit Review. A further £72,600 as a share of the West Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority’s Traffic Signals Obsolescence Grant, as well as Network North funding of £1,843,934.
Cllr Cathy Scott, Leader of Kirklees Council, said: “The maintenance and improvements of our highways network are vital for the development of Kirklees as a place where people want to live, work and visit. Continued investment improves access links between our towns and villages, creating more opportunities for education, employment, and training.
Investing in highways assets across Kirklees is key to supporting mode shift to more sustainable methods of transport by investing in safer pedestrian access, cycling facilities and better access to public transport, linking our town centres.”
How funding will support different projects across Kirklees
A breakdown of projects for the next two years would see improvements to flood management with improved gullies and drains and a continuation of street lighting upgrades.
The locality based unclassified programme (LBUR) could potentially see further investment of £3 million, to continue with works already carried out.
Local Public Rights of Way (PROW) will see better signage, boardwalks, footbridges and handrails, along with improved drainage and vegetation management, making areas more accessible for all.
Funding for Urban Traffic Control (UTC) will support new traffic light technology. Prioritising junction and crossing sites for replacement, helping to improve journey times and prioritise public transport, pedestrians, and cyclists at individual junctions and along key corridors.
West Yorkshire Vision Zero, a partnership working to reduce road danger, will continue to encourage a shift towards more active modes of transport. This will be carried out through several actions including analysis of improvements in route infrastructure, pedestrian crossings, and safety on school routes, as well as further speed management initiatives.
CRSTS funding is allocated to drive economic growth, improve services and de-carbonise transport. This can be achieved with better investment in asset management and maintenance, and through the provision and promotion of safe, inclusive, and accessible active travel and public transport, to more ambitious transformational projects like Transforming Cities initiative and Mass Transit solutions.
The funding will help to maintain and improve the condition of the highway network across Kirklees which comprises of 1900km of roads; 2333km of pavements and cycleway; 754 bridges, larger culverts, subways and retaining/other walls; 58,805 streetlights; 250km established drains; 75,653 gullies, plus other items such as road markings and street furniture.
PIC-KIRKLESS COUNCIL
