A £150m fund to improve Kirklees’ roads could see an end to traffic jams.
The worst bottlenecks on some of Huddersfield’s busiest roads could be widened.
The council is currently deciding what to do with a huge pot of cash secured from the £1bn West Yorkshire Transport Fund.
The multi-million fund was revealed by the Examiner almost two years ago but details have been few and far between.
Councillors have now agreed to use the cash to move forward with several projects designed to reduce congestion on the roads and improve air quality.
A shortlist of ten schemes has been earmarked including:
The new M62 junction at Bradley Bar
The whole of the A641 Bradford Road including a possible Brighouse bypass
The A629 Huddersfield to Halifax route
The A62 Leeds Road from Huddersfield through to Mirfield and Heckmondwike
The notoriously slow A644 from Dewsbury to Brighouse including the Cooper Bridge roundabout
The main road connecting Dewsbury and Leeds, the A653.
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Clr Peter McBride said the idea was to improve traffic flow on the roads most prone to jams and air pollution.
He told fellow members of the Cabinet that “intelligent traffic lights” would be used and other “impediments” to keeping vehicles moving would potentially be removed.
In pictures: Commutes from hell
A report for councillors reveals a number of plans are being hatched, including widening the routes most prone to jams.
Land would have to be bought in some cases, possibly using compulsory purchase orders.
An idea to mimic London’s red routes – roads where stopping is banned at all times by double red lines – is also being considered.
More parking restrictions could be implemented to keep parked cars out of the way on the borough’s most important roads.
New ‘Gateways’ would also be created to Kirklees towns and villages.
These would be more attractive welcome signs and green spaces.
The report says the schemes would work in conjunction with the Local Plan to provide more capacity on roads where major housing developments are being done.
And it warns that councillors may have to override local complaints for the greater good of the borough.
It is thought some residential parking outside homes on major ‘A roads’ could be removed or changed in a bid to keep traffic moving.
Referring to any changes to roads and restrictions, the report says: “Councillors need to be aware that if an acceptable balance cannot be found then strategic issues may have to be prioritised in preference to local concerns.
“Such measures as parking controls and turning restrictions may have to be applied to keep delays on our main roads to a minimum.”
