Greengates Junction

Client: Bradford Council

Value: £5m
Location: Bradford
Contract Period: 97 weeks
Contract Type:

Background

Howard Civil Engineering was the main contractor of the Harrogate Road/New Line junction improvement scheme, known locally as Greengates Junction, working on behalf of Bradford Council.

Harrogate Road is a key commuter route between Bradford, Rawdon and Harrogate, and is also the primary access between Bradford and Leeds Bradford Airport in Yeadon. New Line is a main route between Keighley, Shipley, Bingley and Leeds.

The road had long been considered one of the most congested in the district.

This project saw us undertake major improvements to the existing junction in Greengates including widening the existing highway on all four arms of the junction, signal upgrades and a P-loop. Cyclists and pedestrians also benefit from the scheme with the addition of new cycle lanes, pedestrian islands and more controlled crossings.

New trees and grass verges have increased green space around the junction. Where trees were removed, new ones have been planted to replace them at other locations within the scheme and nearby.

This was a highly complex scheme due to the large amount of residential properties, service providers and businesses which could have been negatively affected by the construction phase if not managed sympathetically.

Howard Civil Engineering made sure to engage the local community where possible and give back to this wonderful neighbourhood. In total, we contributed over £9,500 and volunteered over 35 working days to the Bradford community, including raising over £2,100 for Mind in Bradford at Tough Mudder, donning pink hi-vis vests for Bosom Friends Bradford, and giving Greengates Primary Academy's playground a whole new look over summer 2021.

The Harrogate Road and New Line junction improvement scheme received investment through the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Growth Deal - a £1 billion package of government investment to accelerate growth and create jobs across Leeds City Region. This scheme was awarded funding in 2015. Alongside the funding from the Leeds City Region LEP Growth Deal, the scheme has also been funded by developer contributions.

Scope

  • Widening all four approaches to Greengates Junction totalling 580m of existing carriageway
  • 70m new carriageway
  • Underground attenuation to accommodate run off from increased paved footprint
  • Numerous commercial, industrial and retail businesses with frontages directly facing the scheme
  • Schools, early years nursery and play centre, fast food and restaurant outlets, supermarkets, businesses, offices
  • Maintenance of access for residents, customers, deliveries, service users
  • Stakeholder liaison management plan including one to one consultation, electronic progress newsletters, community forum drop in days
  • Clear phasing plans for presentation to stakeholders
  • Extensive major service diversions
  • Multiple phased temporary traffic management design including applications to Bradford Council
  • New traffic-signal-controlled junction
  • Management of high-volume pedestrian footfall including school children.
  • New stone-clad reinforced concrete retaining walls
  • Alterations to war memorial garden
  • Extensive lengths of existing masonry walls and wrought iron fencing and gates to be dismantled and rebuilt sympathetically

More from Greengates Junction

Praise from our stakeholders:

"It’s a fantastic achievement from a lot of hard work and patience from all concerned. The team of managers for this site deserve… an award for outstanding project completion. From day one this site has been well managed, impeccably controlled, day after day it has been spotless through the whole project. Well done all who have worked on this junction upgrade... a job done very well."

- Roger, commuter

“Thanks to all for getting our road junction updated. This had been long overdue… [and] the layout looks fantastic now it’s open to traffic. Your workers have been pleasant whilst on site and have worked well in the community too when time permitted. Big round of applause from this household!”

- Diane, local resident

“To all you guys and ladies involved in the lengthy road improvement work at Greengates, I would just like to congratulate all involved in what I'm sure was a very difficult task. The lengthy tailbacks have vanished, and the traffic is flowing beautifully… I'm sure that the new road will cope well. Congratulations to you all on a job well done in difficult times and thank you for hopefully making the last few years of my pre-retirement travel a much less stressful journey.”

- Andrew, commuter

"I think you guys are doing a smashing job on the work at the junction. I think the workers getting involved in community projects is brilliant such as the tidying up etc. The newsletter is brilliant at keeping us informed on what’s happened and what is going to happen every couple of weeks so thank you for making this process as painless as we could have hoped."

- Local resident

"[I would like to commend] Howard Civil Engineering on their newsletters on Greengates road junction. As someone who uses the junction frequently, it's nice to know how progress is being made and what is happening. Keep up the great work."

- Richard, local resident

"I live in the area and [Howard Civil Engineering] are doing a cracking job. All sites seem nice and tidy and there have been few delays so far. Keep it going!"

- David, local resident

"I [was] dreading the works starting, but I think Howards have done a very good job of keeping the traffic moving. It might have been the only good thing to come out of Covid-19!"

- Ken, local resident

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