Council and transport leaders have taken a tour of the new state-of-the-art transport interchange currently being constructed in Bolton – ahead of the installation of a new high-tech roof on the building.
Chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) Committee, Councillor Andrew Fender, and the Leader of Bolton Council, Councillor Cliff Morris, were invited to inspect the site of the new interchange by contractor Kier for a behind-the-scenes tour of the construction works earlier this week.
Councillor Fender said: “It’s great to get out on site and see the progress being made on such an important facility for the people of Bolton.
“When complete, the new interchange will provide a much more pleasurable experience for people travelling to and from Bolton, transforming a key gateway to and from the town centre.
“I’d like to thank everyone for bearing with us while the work is ongoing, I am sure that the benefits to passengers and Bolton town centre will be worth it.”
Progress to deliver the flagship scheme – which is a key element of the town centre regeneration programme – has taken a major step forward in recent months with the completion of steelworks and a high-tech, super-lightweight roof soon to be installed.
Leader of Bolton Council, Councillor Cliff Morris, added: “It’s good to see even more progress has been made on the new interchange.
“The interchange is a key part of our town centre regeneration programme. It will be increasingly important as developments and plans we have for the town centre come to fruition.”
Work will soon start to install the facility’s Ethylene Tetra Fluoro Ethylene (ETFE) roof. The same material was used for the roofs on interchanges at Rochdale and Altrincham as well as at Victoria Rail Station.
Once the roof is fully installed and construction is complete, the building will provide a modern, accessible and sheltered environment for passengers to obtain information and wait for their services.
The new interchange will provide better passenger information and ticketing facilities and a safer, more secure waiting environment. A skylink bridge directly connecting the interchange with the nearby train station will also be constructed.
It will also offer improved links between the town’s bus services and rail station, as well as providing a far more attractive ‘gateway’ to and from the town centre.
The transport interchange is being delivered by TfGM in partnership with Bolton Council, and forms part of the regeneration of Newport Street.
The £48 million scheme is being funded by the Greater Manchester Transport Fund and will support the wider regeneration plans in the area.