A MAIN road deemed to be a major risk for crashes is to be closed so safety work can be carried out.

The busy A6033 between Oxenhope and Hebden Bridge is rated by the Road Safety Foundation as one of the country’s 50 ‘A’ routes with the greatest risk of fatal or serious-injury accidents.

Now Calderdale Council has secured funding from the Government’s Safer Roads Fund to implement a series of safety measures on the route.

Initial work is getting under way, with the raising of parapet walls on the section above Midgehole Road.

And resurfacing is scheduled to take place next month, when stretches of the road will be shut.

The council says diversions will be lengthy and it recognises the disruption that may be caused, but that the closure is necessary to ensure workers’ safety.

It adds that working hours are being limited to minimise the disruption as much as possible.

Work will be carried out between the Old Road junction and the Bedlam bends from Monday, September 9 until Friday, September 20, and between the Midgehole Road and Akroyd Lane junctions from Monday, September 16 to Friday, September 27.

Closures will be in place weekdays, between 9am and 4.30pm.

Councillor Jane Scullion, Calderdale Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and resources, said: “The A6033 is a narrow road with frequent bends and walls close to the carriageway, all of which make severe accidents more likely.

“We’re committed to making our roads safer, and the money from the Safer Roads Fund is being used to introduce a number of improvement measures to one of our higher-risk routes.

“We’re aware that the required closures may cause disruption, but by limiting the hours of work we hope to reduce the impact on those travelling on this route as much as possible.”

Further, more-extensive work is planned for next year.

Measures will include improved roadside protection, better signage and revised road markings.

It is anticipated that further road closures will be necessary during that phase of work, in the summer or early autumn of next year.

“Making our roads safer and improving our highways networks are essential elements of the council’s progress towards the delivery of the Vision2024 for Calderdale,” added Cllr Scullion.

The section of A6033 is a busy route for motorists making the journey from the Worth Valley to Hebden Bridge.