Wakefield Road Junction Improvements

Overview

The Wakefield Road/Neville Road roundabout in Bradford needed urgent improvements because it was causing significant congestion during peak hours and posed safety concerns for both drivers and pedestrians.

The existing layout was outdated and no longer suitable for the volume of modern traffic or the size of large vehicles using the junction.

The project was initiated to redesign the junction in a way that would improve traffic flow, enhance safety, and make the area more accessible for all road users.

Challenges and Solutions

The project encountered several challenges that required thoughtful and practical solutions to ensure the success of the roundabout improvements. One of the main issues was ensuring that large vehicles could safely navigate the roundabout. To address this, the team used AutoTrack to test HGV movements and confirm that the general arrangement provided sufficient lane dimensions and turning space.

Other challenges and how they were addressed included:

• Aligning the new road layouts with the existing topography, which required updates to the pavement and drainage designs.
• Managing drainage and preventing flooding, which involved identifying points of connection to the existing drainage network and designing additional manholes and carrier drains where necessary.
• Addressing safety concerns raised during the Road Safety Audits by conducting Stage 1, 2, and 3 audits and collaborating with local authorities and police for thorough on-site assessments.

MCA's Contribution

MCA played a pivotal role in the successful delivery of this scheme. Our involvement spanned from early-stage design review through to post-construction safety auditing, ensuring the scheme met both technical and safety standards.

Our contributions included:

• Reviewing and amending the initial highway design to align with DMRB and Bradford City Council standards.
• Preparing detailed construction drawings, longitudinal sections, and setting-out information to guide accurate implementation on site.
• Designing drainage improvements, including new connections, manholes, and carrier drains.
• Managing the Road Safety Audit process across all three stages, including coordination with local authority officers and police representatives.
• Responding to audit findings with practical design solutions and ensuring that safety concerns were addressed or monitored appropriately.
• Providing ongoing technical support and advice throughout the design and construction phases to ensure compliance and quality.

Results

Careful planning and collaborative on-site management from Hinko, City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council and MCA resulted in the works being executed safely and on programme with the road opening to the public some 6 weeks earlier than originally planned.

The improvements to the roundabout have shown positive outcomes.

Traffic flow has noticeably improved, reducing congestion during peak hours.

Pedestrian safety has also been enhanced through better crossings and clearer signage.

The scheme was recognised by the Institution of Civil Engineers and was awarded the Smeaton Award Certificate of Excellence 2020.