Re-opening of Interchange welcomed - but questions remain

A new report into the Interchange, which has been shut since January, has revealed that the bus station can be re-opened, but only if a raft of safety measures are put in place first.

These will include regular inspections of the station’s structure and placing netting over the area where a falling slab of concrete led to the closure on safety grounds.

A meeting of West Yorkshire Combined Authority will hear the results of a survey by Jacobs Engineering Services that suggests that if the safety measures are put in place, the station could re-open in January.

The report also suggests that because of the age of the station, built in the 1970s, work should begin on plans for an eventual replacement station that will include stops for buses and the planned tram system coming to West Yorkshire.

But the cost of the work, and an exact date for the station’s re-opening, is unlikely to be finalised until another meeting of the Authority in October.

The report to members says: “The report by Jacobs states that the ‘preliminary findings of the structural investigation into Bradford Interchange indicate that the risk associated with the operation of the Interchange, and the subsequent reinstatement of both pedestrian and vehicular traffic loading is low, provided that appropriate control measures are implemented.’

“These control measures would include structural monitoring through periodic safety inspections, provision/reinstatement of netting beneath the main interchange slab, a staged reopening and preparation of an incident management plan to promote effective and proportionate management of any defects that are identified through periodic inspections.

“It has been determined that the structure has reached the end of its design life - the point where the structure may need to be replaced or start to need significantly more investment to remain fit for purpose.

“However, with the right level of investment, the structure can remain functional for longer. Further investigations are underway in relation to the functionality of the structure and what investment is required to extend the life of the structure.

“The scale of ongoing costs to maintain the structure have not yet been fully quantified and these will be reported to the October Combined Authority.”

“Work to understand how quickly the bus station can reopen and to mobilise rectification and operational reactivation activity is underway.

“Recognising that it has been previously reported that the current bus interchange facility has a limited operational life based on the fact that costs of maintaining safe operation are anticipated to rise over time, work has commenced in establishing a project to progress an alternative integrated bus station/Mass Transit facility in Central Bradford.

Bradford Interchange (Image: T&A)

“While it is too early to be able to report on potential identified locations, considerations to date include: optimum location for passengers and bus operation, land availability/cost, project design activity, facility longevity requirements (including interface with potential new Bradford Northern Powerhouse Rail station), mobilisation timescales and Mass Transit integration.

“In respect of the wider strategic transport picture, there are clearly still a number of unresolved areas, where it is not yet possible to be definitive around the location of key transport facilities in the medium term and beyond.

“Dialogue is taking place with Central Government around these, and an update will be provided as part of an October Combined Authority report.”

Councillor Matt Edwards (Green, Tong) sits on the Authority’s Scrutiny Committee. On hearing about the reopening plans, he said: “It's great to finally get some good news on this whole saga. The closure of Interchange has caused a lot of disruption for Bradford residents using buses and trains and I know many people have felt like second class citizens because of just how shambolic the interim measures have been.

"What's made it worse is the poor communication from Tracy Brabin and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. There are a lot of lessons that need to be learned from this whole fiasco and I really want to make sure this never happens again.”

Councillor Brendan Stubbs, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Bradford Council, said: “Hearing that the bus station will reopen will be no doubt be a relief to passengers and businesses in the city centre.

“There are many questions for the Combined Authority that needs answers. How did they allow the Interchange to deteriorate without their knowledge despite multiple renovations? Why has it taken almost a year to get to this point, and why will it take many more months to reopen the Interchange missing the busy Christmas period?

“I am not satisfied the mayor or the combined authority has really given there all to restore the bus station or deliver for Bradfordians.

“This has proved that more attention needs to be paid to how the Combined Authority maintain vital infrastructure they own. Let's hope the new emergency plan is far better than the shambles passengers have seen over the past nine months.”

Bradford South MP Judith Cummins said: “The announcement that the Interchange may safely re-open will be welcome news to the people of Bradford, who have been without access to a city centre bus station since January.

“Bradford deserves and requires a fit-for-purpose interchange that serves the city's public transport needs. This work must proceed at pace, and I look forward to seeing plans in more detail."