Bradford Interchange closure due to 'fallen concrete'

Bradford Interchange's closure is causing a "massive inconvenience" for commuters, the council leader says

Bradford Interchange was forced to shut due to fallen concrete in the bus station's basement, a report said.

The station was closed on 5 January as a "precautionary measure" after damage linked to extreme weather, West Yorkshire Combined Authority said.

A temporary bus station and stops were set up in the city, with the closure set to run until at least March.

Bradford Council's leader said commuters had been "massively inconvenienced".

The West Yorkshire Transport Committee papers state: "The combined authority took the precautionary measure to close Bradford Interchange Bus Station to safeguard public safety, following a degree of concrete fall into the basement of the facility.

"At the time of report publication, this remains the case."

'A fiasco'

The rail station at the interchange was unaffected, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Susan Hinchcliffe, Bradford Council leader and transport committee chair, called the matter "urgent".

"Commuters have been massively inconvenienced during this time," she said.

"I've spoken to the mayor [Tracy Brabin] and she and I have tasked combined authority officers to work quickly to assess the extent of the damage."

Speaking to the BBC last week at one of the temporary bus stops in the city, one commuter described the closure as a "fiasco".