Bradford Interchange bus station will reopen in the new year
Bradford Interchange bus station will reopen in the new year, it's been confirmed today (October 31).
Members of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority today gave their approval for operations to restart at the facility on January 5.
Preparations for reopening have been underway for several weeks after survey results indicated it would be safe to do so with mitigation measures in place.
The decision comes after full plans for the reopening were announced last week, which also confirmed the reopening of the lower concourse for rail passengers earlier this week.
A decision was made to close the Interchange bus station and concourse back in January, to protect the public and carry out thorough surveys on the structure after some concrete fell in the basement.
Following initial findings from structural surveys, the Combined Authority has been reassured that the bus Interchange is able to safely reopen with mitigation measures in place. These findings have been backed by an independent expert.
Work has already started to get the bus station ready for reopening, with health and safety checks, staff training, deep cleaning and relocating the travel centre back to the bus station all underway.
Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said: “I’m delighted that the Bradford Interchange bus station will reopen in the new year.
“I recognise the closure has caused real hardship for people in Bradford, but safety has always been my number one priority – and we couldn’t reopen the bus station until we were absolutely sure it was safe to do so.”
Around six bus stands out of a total 29 will stay out of action until at least April 2025, due to ongoing resurfacing works, meaning some services will remain on-street until that time. The Combined Authority will communicate which services will return to the station with passengers and the public when this has been arranged.
Real time information will also be unavailable until at least February, while new bus timetables are being developed for services moving back to the Interchange. Extra staff will be deployed at the bus station, and printed information will be available at every bus stop to keep passengers informed.
The lifts, escalator and toilets are all in operation now the lower concourse has reopened.
Leader of Bradford Council and Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe said:
“I’m pleased that we have this decision and that the Combined Authority are now proceeding at pace to re-open the Interchange. It will make life a lot easier for residents and businesses who have had to do without it for so long.”
At the same time, the rail station access ramp will close to allow for resurfacing and the installation of new lighting and artwork. Work to transform the former taxi rank into a new public plaza area is ongoing.