en.Wedoany.com Reported - Calderdale Council in West Yorkshire has announced an investment of over £14 million in its road network over the next 12 months, aiming to balance budget pressures with improving regional connectivity.
The funding includes a newly allocated £1.87 million from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, specifically for pothole repairs and resurfacing. Calderdale Council stated that due to the steep valley terrain and historical layout of West Yorkshire, which limits road widening, its road strategy will focus on reallocating existing road space, managing parking demand, and prioritizing road rights for active travel and public transport.
The funding allocation has been outlined in the Highways Capital Maintenance Programme Report 2025/26 – 2026/27, reviewed by the Council's Cabinet. The report notes that high-quality highway infrastructure is key to driving a shift in transport modes, providing reliable public transport services, and building safe cycling and walking routes. It is also crucial for achieving carbon reduction targets in the Climate Action Plan and supporting biodiversity and ecological goals.
The report also points out that the construction industry has been fully impacted by rising inflation, with supply chain disruptions causing shortages and delays of various materials and items. Additionally, unexpected costs and delays beyond expectations could still affect the overall plan. Due to funding constraints, the highway network is being managed as a deteriorating asset, with resources prioritized for slowing decline rather than achieving significant improvements. Funding has been focused on mitigating further deterioration of the unclassified road network while ensuring A-roads remain safe and functional, but the report emphasizes that this model is unsustainable and hopes for additional highway maintenance funding in the next spending review period.
Of the total £14 million, nearly £10 million will be allocated to carriageway and footway repairs, including resurfacing, patching, surface treatment, and footway reconstruction. These work locations are determined through assessments considering factors such as traffic volume, the route's importance within the network, frequency of use, and the need to maintain access to essential services like hospitals, GP surgeries, and community facilities.
Over £2 million will be invested in highway structures and drainage systems, involving work on several historic viaducts and elevated structures, as well as drainage improvements. The remaining £2.2 million will fund various projects across the borough, including minor maintenance, improving the public rights of way network, creating safer roads, and upgrading signal systems.
Councillor Darren Commons, Calderdale Council's Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, stated that the council is committed to delivering services that matter to local people, prioritizing improvements to road conditions across the borough. He said that through the annual highway maintenance program, the focus will be on routes with the highest usage or those serving important community facilities. The council's highway assets include 290 structures, comprising 207 carriageway bridges, 16 footbridges, 61 culverts with spans greater than 1.5 meters, 6 subways, and approximately 730 kilometers of highway retaining walls. Vehicle bridges require a general inspection every two years and a major inspection every five years.
Commons also stated that attention will be paid to the condition of the numerous bridges, retaining walls, and other structures that make up the highway network, and he is determined to improve the network in a challenging environment, prioritizing the needs of road users and local communities.
