By KLTV Newsdesk –
Works commenced recently on the Locality Based Unclassified Roads programme, approved by Kirklees Council cabinet earlier this year, to carry out improvement works on the districts unclassified roads.
‘Unclassified roads’ are defined as minor or residential roads with lower volumes of traffic.
The £15m highways project, featuring over 120 schemes across all 23 wards, aims to tackle more of those roads and pavements in need of immediate repair.
Additionally, the council says the works aim to provide a more attractive street scene and help improve the public realm in the local areas, as well as provide road and pavement surfaces that are easier to use as a pedestrian or cyclist.
The current network of unclassified roads run to over 1440km or 895 miles long – roughly the distance between Land’s End in Cornwall and John O’Groats in Scotland.
Local councillors initially identified priority unclassified roads and pavement sites in their wards and agreed to a minimum delivery of three schemes per ward.
The programme, which has commenced, is delivering a total of 77 schemes across the district by March 2022. The entire programme of works is expected to be completed by March 2023.
‘Vital Development’
Councillor Naheed Mather, Cabinet Member for Environment said: “The maintenance and improvements to our transport network are vital for the development of Kirklees as a place where people want to live, work and visit.
“Our officers have worked closely with local ward councillors to identify which roads and pavements should be included in the programme of works.
“And unclassified roads, deemed as minor or residential roads with lower volumes of traffic, are no less important with benefits reaching the wider community.
“These improvements will also have a positive impact on encouraging more of our residents to walk or cycle which is not only good for our health but for the improvement of our air quality.”
Winter Season
This programme is in addition to £3.2million investment in repairing hotspots on unclassified roads during the summer and autumn months last year to provide protection for the road network before the winter season.
It also forms part of the Highways Capital Plan, a detailed programme of work with over £22million to be invested into the road network in Kirklees over the next two years which was approved at cabinet on 1 June 2021.