Howard Civil Engineering’s £3.9m package to widen over 600m of road in Keighley is now complete!

Our work has seen two pre-existing lanes on Hard Ings Road widened into a dual carriageway and an additional lane constructed on Beechcliffe Roundabout.

Hard Ings Road was a renowned pinch point for commuters travelling between Keighley and Bradford, with road users frequently experiencing delays along the route. Howard Civil Engineering were awarded the contract from the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council to undertake improvement works in February 2019, with work commencing on site in May 2019.

In addition to widening the road, we have remodelled traffic islands and central reservations, installed new street lighting, pedestrian crossings, and road signage, and established a new drainage system.

Tony Kilbane, contract manager, said: ‘This was a very high-profile scheme in which the local community were deeply invested. There are a number of businesses along Hard Ings Road for whom we had to maintain access and hundreds of commuters who use the road daily.

‘Howard Civil Engineering’s community liaison programme has proved very successful; our fortnightly newsletter reached over a thousand subscribers and has received numerous compliments from readers who are grateful that we ensured they were informed of progress on the scheme and traffic management measures.’

Initial responses to the completed scheme have been overwhelmingly positive. Former Keighley town mayor Graham Mitchell has used the road multiple times since it reopened and noted ‘the reduction in traffic congestion and the high standard of the infrastructure is quite amazing.’

One local resident said the widened road has ‘transformed’ their journey to work and another commented that the increased road capacity is ‘beyond amazing and makes such a huge difference.’

In our final community newsletter, Howard Civil Engineering announced we have contributed over £7,900 in fundraising and donations and over 160 volunteer hours to the Keighley community since work commenced on the scheme.

Howard Civil Engineering contracts manager Tony Kilbane (left) and Bradford Council project manager David Aspinall (right) oversaw the completion of the scheme.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration Planning and Transport, said: “The improvements which have been carried out at Hard Ings Road are aimed at easing congestion, increasing road capacity, enhancing safety for road users, and boosting investment opportunities in the Keighley area. I’m delighted that it’s been so well received by members of the public.”

The scheme for Hard Ings Road was developed by the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council. The scheme received investment through the West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund as part of 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.