City centre roadworks: Latest updates on Market Street transformation

Project bosses have pledged to maintain pedestrian access "at all times" to Market Street, Hall Ings, Bank Street and parts of Bridge Street while the works progress.

At one end of Market Street, closest to the Midland Hotel, a new section of paving has already been laid where the road would once have run.

On other parts of the street, work to remove the top layer of the road surface is underway in readiness for further paving being installed. 

Paving being laid at one end of Market Street closest to the Midland Hotel (Image: T&A)

The closure of Market Street coincided with the opening of a new city centre bus loop, with a number of alternative bus stops introduced on Well Street, Vicar Lane, Bridge Street and at other locations.

However, the changes have proved controversial, with passengers saying they were confused, although West Yorkshire Combined Authority said it was "working closely with our partners to minimise disruption wherever possible and will continue to respond to feedback."

A line of buses in Nelson Street on Wednesday afternoon as passengers seek information from officials (Image: T&A)

On Wednesday afternoon, it was clear that a number of passengers were still unsure about the changes to the bus network, while five buses could be seen queuing at one of the new bus stops on Well Street, at the back of the Broadway.

In order to keep pedestrians and contruction workers apart, a series of metal barriers are now in place on Market Street, which seemed a little eerie with no traffic on the once-busy street and all the bus shelters now empty and out of use.

Plenty of barriers are in place on Market Street as the works continue (Image: T&A)

The work in Market Street is designed to create “high quality public realm”, Bradford Council's principle engineer Darren Badrock told a previous meeting of Bradford Council.

The works will include the installation of floor sockets to make it easier for the street to host events, Mr Badrock said previously.

A collection of signs at one end of Market Street on Wednesday afternoon (Image: T&A)

Work is also set to begin on removing traffic management, such as cones and barriers, from around the city centre where possible.

Meanwhile, further overnight works are set to take place this week on Church Bank, Well Street, Vicar Lane, Hall Ings and Leeds Road. 

The top layer of the road surface has been removed from this section of Bank Street (Image: T&A)

The works taking place will happen across Wednesday 24, Thursday 25 and Friday 26 April. The works will run between 11pm and 5am. Project managers say "noise will be kept to a minimum."

However, there will be several road closures in place including:

• Well Street from the junction with Church Bank.
• Vicar Lane from the junction with Hall Ings.
• Hall Ings/Leeds Road from the junction with Shipley Airedale Road