Only 70% of First Bus routes returning to station

Bradford Interchange bus station is set to reopen on 5 January after being closed throughout 2024

Only 70% of a bus firm's services will return to using Bradford Interchange when the station reopens in the new year.

First Bus said most routes will return to the bus station, but a total of 11 services will continue to use stops on Nelson Street and Hall Ings.

A resurfacing project means six stands at Bradford Interchange are currently unavailable, forcing some services to remain on-street until further notice.

The bus station is set to reopen on 5 January - almost exactly a year after it was closed due to structural damage.

John Roxburgh, regional head of operations for First Bus, said local teams and network colleagues had done an "amazing job" in reorganising services "during a challenging period".

"We have also continued to work closely with West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) and local partners to support changes over many months as improvements to the road infrastructure were completed," he said.

"Planning for the reopening of the Interchange has been just the same and we are delighted that most of our services are able to return in the new year."

Work to resurface the bus carriageway started at Bradford Interchange in late 2022 and "considerable progress had been made prior to the closure", according to WYCA papers, but approximately 25% of the work is yet to be completed.

The resurfacing work is funded through the Integrated Transport Block and City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement programme.

WYCA contributes more than £8.5m, but further funding is required to complete the remaining works.

Approval is being sought for an additional £2.5m of funding to finish the resurfacing, allowing all services to return to Bradford Interchange.

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