BRADFORD TRIDENT - NEWS & Events

Work on Connect2 starts

Construction work is underway to complete the first phase
of Sustrans' Connect2 project in Bradford.

The work includes widening footways, new street lighting, new road crossings incorporating speed tables, new yellow lines, new seats, litter bins and removing obstructing sign posts. The streets that will be affected include Newall Street, Pakington Street, Clayton Lane, Park Road, Reyhill Grove and Manchester Road. Joining up the existing sections of the Living Street will complete the first phase of the network of walking and cycling routes and will provide a continuous route between Hutson Street and City Park.

Bradford's Connect2 is a £3 million project for a network of walking, cycling routes and a new bridge over Manchester Road. It builds on the Living Street and will join communities in East and West Bowling and Little Horton to shops, schools and amenities. Half the funding is coming from the Big Lottery Fund. They awarded Sustrans, the charity that enables people to make more of their everyday journeys by foot, bike and public transport, £50million for their Connect2 project. Connect2 is developing new walking and cycling links in communities right across the UK. Claire Wright, Scheme Manager for Sustrans, said, "We appreciate that some walking and cycling routes will be disrupted while this work takes place, but we hope that residents are excited as we are, about the fantastic walking and cycling links that will emerge. This is a really exciting project for Bradford, which will allow people to make many more local journeys without having to get in their car."

Bradford Council, along with community-led Bradford Trident and Sustrans have been working in partnership to deliver the project. Taj Salam, Chair of Bradford Trident said, "The Connect2 Project is a wonderful addition to all the projects that have been done in our area and we at Bradford Trident welcome it with open arms! The new cycle and pedestrian routes will make it effortless for community members to visit friends, family and loved ones in the area via a very user-friendly cycle and walk route that directs away from traffic hotspots"

Councillor Ghazanfer Khaliq, Bradford Council's Executive Member for the Environment and Sustainability, said: "The works on these streets will make a real difference to the environment and I am sure will encourage greater use of these walking and cycling routes around the area and into the city centre."