A CYCLE and walking route costing £1m will cross a spectacular viaduct in Huddersfield.

The Calder Valley Greenway will breathe new life into the old Bradley railway viaduct after years of disuse.

A planning application for the new route - also available for horse riders - has finally been tabled after more than two years of talks.

The eight-mile path will follow quiet roads, existing cycle lanes, the dismantled railway line, private and public paths and canal towpath.

A Kirklees Council spokeswoman said: "It will open up areas of attractive countryside which are currently inaccessible and offer a path which will be attractive to both leisure users and commuters."

The new Calder Valley Greenway will go across Bradley Viaduct between Leeds Road at Bradley and Dalton Bank.

Its route will extend from the existing Birkby to Bradley cycle route, link to the and Spen Valley Greenway and continue to Dewsbury Ring Road,

It is hoped to construct the first phase - from the Spen Valley Greenway to Dewsbury - next spring.

Other phases will be built over the next five years following funding and land negotiations.

The council spokeswoman said: "The project demonstrates the council's commitment to providing alternative transport to the car."

National cycle group Sustrans has been involved in getting the project off the ground.

About £650,000 of the cost will come from Kirklees Council through its Government allocation for sustainable transport.

About a third of the route needs planning permission and this will be considered in a couple of months.

The council's spokeswoman said: "The construction of the path will cause minimal disruption to the community.

"The only major construction works are the repair works required to Bradley Viaduct and the work needed near Dalton Bank Road to minimise the gradient of the path."

Details of the route and the implementation programme are available at Huddersfield, Mirfield, Ravensthorpe and Dewsbury libraries.

* Cyclists will have a chance to have their say on cycleways at Kirklees Council's next quarterly meeting for them.

It will take place in the Windsor Suite at Huddersfield Sports Centre from 7.30pm to 9pm on Monday.

The agenda will include an opportunity to discuss the maintenance and cleaning of cycleways.

Visitors to the meeting are invited to add more issues.