Sowerby Bridge

What we're doing

During April 2026 work began on phase 1 of a major project to replace around 11km of clean water pipes in Sowerby Bridge.   

Our partner, Sapphire Utility Services have recently started work on Wakefield Road between 23 Wakefield Road and Elm Bank. From Tuesday 5 May, a second team will start on the same road at the junction with Copley Lane. 

To finish the work on Wakefield Road as quickly as possible, these two teams will work towards each other. The sites will merge as they get close enough and one team will remain in place to complete the work, which we hope to have finished by the end of December 2026. 

Both teams will have multiway traffic lights in place throughout, these will be manually controlled between 7am and 7pm every day. 

There is also work to complete on Wakefield Road (Bolton Brow to no 23), Copley Grove, Copley Mount, Woodhouse Lane and Copley Glen. We’ll update here when we have details of when this work will take place. 

Phase 2 works

From Tuesday 5 May work will begin on the second of our projects in Sowerby Bridge. Starting on Quarry Hill at the four-way junction with Haugh End Lane, Fore Lane, and Jerry Lane, 4-way traffic lights will be in place for this section of work.

This work will then continue on to Sowerby Street until it reaches the junction with Sowerby New Road. We are aiming to be finished with this section of the work by the second week of July. 

The next section of work will be on Sowerby New Road, from the junction of Sowerby Street to halfway between the junctions of Fore Lane Avenue and Cemetery Road.  We’ll need to close the road while we’re working here, we’re expecting to start this closure in the summer holidays to minimise disruption to New Road Primary School. We’ll update here when we have details of when this work will take place. 

Below is a table of the streets we’ll be working on as part of phase 1 and 2, along with any confirmed dates.

Phase 1

Phase 2

There is also work to complete on Salisbury Street and Walton Street as part of phase 2. 

This work may take longer if we run into bad weather, poor ground conditions, or other difficult circumstances. We will update you again if there are any major changes or delays.

What else do you need to know?  

• Our team will work weekdays 8am-5pm. On occasion we may need to work a little later, however we will always try to inform you in advance.  
• Driveways will not be impacted but on-street parking will be affected. 
• Bin collections will not be affected, please put your bin out as normal. 
• If we need to briefly interrupt your water supply, you’ll receive a card notifying you of the dates and times in advance. 
• A compound area with storage and facilities for the team will be set up in private land on Wakefield Road. 
• We don’t need access to your home. Please remember to always ask for identification before letting anyone into your home.   

Community Drop In Event

We’re hosting a community drop-in on Wednesday 20 May at the Foundry Street Community Centre, Foundry St, Sowerby Bridge HX6 3AS between 3pm and 6pm. All residents and businesses that may be impacted by the work are invited to come along to meet the project team from Yorkshire Water, and Sapphire Utility Solutions. You’ll be able to ask questions and find out more about the work we’re doing. 

Don’t worry if you can’t attend, we’ll keep you updated on our work as it progresses and will hold further drop-in events as we move into the other phases of the project.