WORK to repair and resurface sections of Bradford Interchange will cost £6.5 MILLION more than originally planned.

Two years ago West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which runs the transport hub, approved funding of £2m to carry out essential work to the carriageways that are used by buses travelling into and out of the Interchange.

The existing carriageways were said to be “deteriorating” and the work would include waterproofing and resurfacing large sections of the station.

It was said to be essential to keep the station safely operating.

But a new document published by the Combined Authority has revealed that this repair work is now expected to cost £8,501,000 - more than four times the original price tag.

And the price could rise even further, as the scale of the repairs needed will not be known until work starts.

The report blames the spiralling cost on a “lack of information” about the scale of the task when the project was first budgeted, and the impact of both Brexit and the Covid 19 pandemic.

Members will vote on whether to provide the extra funding at a meeting on Thursday.

They will be told that the work is essential, as closing the Interchange to buses, and moving stops onto city streets would “gridlock” the city centre.

The bus section of the Interchange, built almost 50 years ago, is on a concrete slab above a car park and leisure units.

The station as a whole is soon to undergo a major upgrade, funded by the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund.

New documents reveal more details of £13.2m Interchange redevelopment

That £13m project will see the Bradford Council owned NCP car park on Hall Ings demolished to create a new gateway for the station, the taxi rank moved from the north of the site to the south, and a redesigned Bridge Street entrance that would leave space for retail or leisure units.

The report to the Combined Authority says the repair work will need to take place before the wider improvements to the Interchange begin.

Explaining the work needed to repair the station, the report says: “This ageing structure is now showing signs of deterioration and has been subject to a number of repairs.

“Works will include the removal of existing surfacing materials down to concrete slab, removal of the waterproofing membrane and associated works, inspections of the existing concrete slab and repairs to the slab and drainage system undertaken if and where required.

“The scheme will then lay new carriageway and surfacing materials and re-lay carriageway markings. This will take place in 14 distinct phases from January 2022 to June 2023.”

The report says: “Following the (2019) approval, the contractor, Balfour Beatty, carried out a pre-construction feasibility study and site surveys.

“These surveys discovered unexpected failures of the structure that if not rectified may pose a public safety risk and as a result of these discoveries the total estimated scheme costs have risen to £8,501,000.”

Explaining the eye watering rise in budget, it adds: “The cost increase is due to a lack of information available at feasibility stage and lack of detail and certainty regarding deliverability.

“There has also been increases in the cost of materials and inflation has risen due to Brexit and Covid-19.

“Following feasibility surveys and investigations the contractor provided a more robust estimate of cost and resource which has resulted in higher overall delivery cost.”

It adds: “There are not considered to be feasible options other than the preferred option for the scheme which is the full resurfacing of the carriageway.

“Not undertaking the works, as a do-nothing option, would result, in the short term, of posing a health and safety risk and, in the long term, of the closure of the carriageway, with buses needing to be diverted elsewhere to allow passengers to alight.

“This would result in an increased journey time and the loss of Bradford Interchange as an effective asset.”

Detailing the possible risks of the scheme, the report says: “The true condition of the concrete deck will not be realised until it is uncovered in the first phase of works. If the concrete is in worse repair than expected this will impact on the cost and programme of works.”