A project which will provide safer active travel opportunities on a six-mile-long corridor in West Yorkshire is set to begin, following Esh Construction being appointed as contractor.
The project will create the ‘A638 Dewsbury to Cleckheaton Sustainable Travel Corridor’ in a bid to make it easier for people to walk, cycle and use public transport. Esh’s civil engineering division will deliver the £6.4 million scheme in partnership with Kirklees Council.
Through the construction of new controlled crossings, widened footways and on-street cycling upgrades, as well as a bus lane and priority bus measures, the scheme will prioritise pedestrian safety and provide better and more reliable public transport provision.
The latest award follows Esh’s successful delivery of four active travel projects in South Yorkshire which were overseen by Construction Manager, Michael Sherrard. He said: “These types of projects require extensive logistical planning while working across online travel networks and commuter routes. Having completed similar projects in Rotherham and Barnsley within the last 16 months, we are pleased to have been appointed by Kirklees Council to deliver these important infrastructure improvements which will create better connectivity for local communities.”
The northern part of the A638 runs through the heart of West Yorkshire, connecting the centres of Dewsbury, Heckmondwike and Cleckheaton. By creating a sustainable travel corridor, residents will have better access to employment, education and healthcare, and links between Kirklees and Bradford will be strengthened.
The scheme forms part of the council’s wider vision to create healthy, vibrant town centres where people can live, work and relax. Councillor Moses Crook, Deputy Leader of the council and Cabinet Member for Housing and Transport, said: “It’s great to see the spades in the ground for the Dewsbury to Cleckheaton Sustainable Travel Corridor.
“We understand that there will be short term disruption, but once completed, the scheme is set to have lasting positive impact, opening up better access to more education, employment and training opportunities across Kirklees and beyond. The works in Dewsbury will be carried out with minimum disruption and I’d like to encourage people to continue to visit our town centres and support our fantastic independent businesses.”
As part of Esh’s commitment to maximising social and economic value within its local communities, a comprehensive package of social value initiatives will be delivered which will include donations towards charitable projects, procuring and employing locally, and on site work placement and training opportunities.
The project was procured via YORhub’s YORcivil3 framework and is being funded with monies from the Transforming Cities Fund.
These types of projects require extensive logistical planning while working across online travel networks and commuter routes. Having completed similar projects in Rotherham and Barnsley within the last 16 months, we are pleased to have been appointed by Kirklees Council to deliver these important infrastructure improvements which will create better connectivity for local communities.”