Underpass repairs agreed

Mar 6 2008 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

MOTORISTS are in line for six months of delays on Huddersfield ring road.

The Cabinet approved plans to strengthen the Unna Way underpass at Northgate.

Highways inspectors found that the underpass, which was built in 1970, needs extensive maintenance work, including waterproofing, joint replacement and pointing.

The Cabinet were given three possible options for the work.

Option A - the longest and most expensive choice, but also the one which would cause the least disruption - was chosen.

Repair work lasting 24 weeks will begin in June, costing £1.82m.The affected area includes Northgate, Castlegate and Lower Fitzwilliam Street – all of which have two lanes running in both directions.

For the first six weeks Castlegate would have one lane open each way and Lower Fitzwilliam Street would be reduced to one lane westbound.

Council officers estimate this would increase traffic waiting times by 25%.

In the second six weeks both roads would be single-lane westbound, which would lead to a 12% rise in queuing times.

All lanes would be open for the final 12 weeks, with only a nominal effect on congestion.

Option A is supported by highways officers, the police and Metro.

The nine ward members representing Dalton, Newsome and Greenhead were all asked for their opinions on the work. But only Clr Mehboob Khan, Clr Julie Stewart-Turner and Clr Barbara Jones responded.