£37.2m plan for Kirklees highways is approved

Kirklees Council has approved a £37.2 million investment to enhance the borough’s highways over the next two years. The funding will support a range of essential infrastructure improvements, including road surfacing, pothole repairs, street lighting, structural works, road safety measures, flood management, drainage upgrades, traffic signal maintenance, car parking enhancements, and improved cycling facilities. It also aims to make public transport a more viable option for local residents.

In addition to this core funding, the council successfully secured further support from central government and regional bodies in 2024. A £500,000 allocation from the Department for Transport’s Green Light Fund will be directed towards traffic signal improvements, with a focus on the A62 Corridor at Cooper Bridge. A further £875,000 has been granted through the City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement to support the Kirklees Speed Limit Review.

The council has also received a £72,600 share from the West Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority’s Traffic Signals Obsolescence Grant, which will be used to replace outdated and defective traffic signal equipment.

Councillor Munir Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Environment and Highways, emphasised the importance of the investment:
“Maintaining and improving our highways network is essential to making Kirklees a great place to live, work and visit. Our ongoing investment improves access between our towns and villages, creating more opportunities for education, employment and training. Investing in highways assets across Kirklees is key to supporting people in making the shift towards other travel options.”

Further initiatives will include improved signage, new boardwalks, footbridges, and handrails across the local Public Rights of Way network. Enhancements to drainage and vegetation management will also be carried out along the borough’s 700 miles of rural and urban footpaths, bridleways, and byways, helping to make these routes safer and more accessible for all users.

The council’s Safer Roads programme will continue to support a move towards more active modes of travel, including walking and cycling, through infrastructure improvements such as upgraded pedestrian crossings.