NEW INTERCHANGE FOR BOLTON

Work begins on new £48 million Bolton Interchange

From The Bolton News

 

 

An artist's impression of how the new Bolton Interchange will look 

 

Building work to make way for Bolton’s new £48 million transport interchange has begun.

Properties in Newport Street, Great Moor Street and Johnson Street will be prepared for demolition so a new bus station can be built in their place.

During the destruction period which is expected to finish in early 2014, temporary fencing will be erected along the roads, and the footpath linking Johnson Street and Newport Street will be closed.

The new interchange has been developed by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and Bolton Council, and will include a new bus station opposite the current train station in Trinity Street.

Former Mayor of Bolton Cllr Guy Harkin, who is deputy chairman of TfGM, said he was delighted to see work finally start on the site.

He said: "The development is well overdue. It will tick a lot of different boxes – it’s not just two plus two equals four, it’s two plus two equals six.

"It’ll deal with the real problems we currently have with the number of people trying to get the train to Manchester, and as we’re developing office space on the area we’re expecting a lot of people to start coming to Bolton for work.

"That part of the town desperately needs regeneration – it’s been a problem area for many years as it’s never had the same expenditure as other parts of Bolton.

"The businesses nearby will have a lot more footfall too."

The car parks to the rear of the site will remain open throughout the demolition period.

Leader of Bolton council Cllr Cliff Morris said the work was a welcome part of the authority’s town centre transport strategy, supported by the Greater Manchester Transport Fund.

He said: "We’re at the next crucial stage of the programme and the demolition will open up the site for construction to start.

"The interchange will play an important part in driving the regeneration of the town centre, together with other projects like the £4.5 million redevelopment of Bolton Market".

Some images from around the current bus station