'Bear with us, we’re going to get there' - Message to residents as major work on A629 in Halifax continues
“Bear with us, we’re going to get there”. That’s the message from the council to Halifax residents as work on routes in the town centre is completed in one area and begins in another.
Halifax town centre has seen major investment over the past decade, including to the road network.
The A629 phase two Halifax town centre project – a four-year regeneration plan – aims to create new public spaces, improve accessibility, create areas where people can move around free of traffic and improve vehicle circulation around the town and public transport connectivity.
The scheme is being delivered by Calderdale Council and is fully funded through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund.
The Halifax Courier was given a tour around the works, hearing about the changes, challenges and what’s coming next.
Work has been taking place along the top of town, or the Western Corridor, since 2024 and big changes to the road layout can already be seen.
These changes include the removal of Bull Green roundabout and the filling in of the subway at Cow Green.
The subway has been removed to allow for residents and visitors to move around the area safely.
Coun Sarah Courtney, Calderdale Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and transport, said: “The project is about moving better around the town, including cars. It’s making sure cars are moving smoothly but also safety for pedestrians, safety for all road users.
"One of the things we’ve done is getting rid of the subways and that’s about the safety of women and girls particularly. Making the crossings visible and safer for people to use.
“It’ll be easier for everyone to navigate around town eventually when it’s all done and it’ll be really good for pedestrians and cars.”
The Western section of works is expected to be completed in the coming months.
When fully complete, the drive from Wards End through to Orange Street will be a lot smoother, says programme manager Mohammed Shah.
“By the time this corridor is complete and while we’re working on the other corridors, it will mean that more vehicles and more traffic will be able to get through more efficiently and the impact of the disruption at the other end of town will be less impactful than if we hadn’t done this work first,” he said.
James Driver, assistant programme manager, added: “All the different junctions will all be connected up through one system so all the traffic lights will be able to communicate with one another.
"Leeds Traffic Control, who look after all the traffic lights in Calderdale, will be able to monitor all the junctions better than they did previously.
"If there is more congestion, they can put more green traffic lights at certain phases to try and get the traffic through.”
The next phase of work, planned for April 2026, will be at the bottom of town by Halifax Railway Station.
Planned changes to the layout include building a new road to the east of the Hughes Corporation building (the road will follow the old alignment of Church Street), creating an “open and welcoming” public space on the approach to the Piece Hall and a new crossing near Halifax Minster.
There will be temporary one-way systems, diversions and temporary traffic light systems while the works take place, which is expected to be around 18 months.
Mohammed says that by closing the roads in this way, it will allow for the work to be completed quicker.
He said: “For example, the one-way of Church Street will be a significant change to how the network is used and we understand that.
"Being able to do that will give us the flexibility to use the works area more effectively, to get the work done more safely, to get the work done quicker.”
Residents will be able to find out more information on all the works at two upcoming information events.
The contractor for the works, Galliford Try, and members of the council’s project team, will be available at drop-in events in Albany Arcade in Halifax Borough Market on Thursday, February 19 from 6pm to 8.30pm and Saturday, February 21 from 9am to 4pm.
When addressing concerns residents may have around disruption during the works, Coun Courtney said: "Yes, there is going to be disruption, you can’t create new spaces without disruption, but they are absolutely coordinated and we plan to try and minimise this as much as possible.
"It might be that while some of the town centre roadworks are going on they’ve actually been phased to be different junctions at different times or the work on the bottom of town, the Eastern Corridor, won’t begin until the work at the top of town, the Western Corridor, is finished.
"So bear with us, we’re going to get there. It is difficult but we will get there.
“Once the whole thing is done it’ll be much easier for people to move around and navigate, to see different places that maybe they’ve never visited before, which is always good for the businesses that are there.
“We are trying to minimise the disruption. There will always be disruption, it is planned and we’re always happy to talk to people with their specific concerns.”