IT is amazing how a town centre changes over the years.

And Bolton has seen many over the past 50 years.

Here are two photographs taken half a century apart showing the area around the railway station in Trinity Street.

The top picture shows work on a bridge replacement scheme. In 1968 the bridge was going to cost £198,000, a far cry from the multi-million pound project underway today on the new interchange which has a skylink bridge linking the bus and railway station.

Our 1968 photograph shows a six ton girder being lifted by a crane. The 27 foot girder had been in place on the old bridge which had been carrying traffic for 60 years.

It was loaded onto a lorry and taken away for scrap.

In all, ten steel girders were taken out, leaving a view of the platform and railway line through a gaping hole.

In its place, a three span pre-stressed concrete bridge was being put in place. the picture was taken in July and according to our report, the work was expected to be completed by Christmas.

The whole scheme, including a service road and a pedestrian subway, was expected to cost £313,000.

It is also interesting to take in the surrounding area. To the right is an impressive three storey pub called The Railway which has long since vanished. However to the left is Holy Trinity Church, which more than 50 years later is still there and is now converted to apartments.

Today, just a stone’s throw is Bolton’s new £48m interchange which is due to open on September 3.

The old Moor Lane bus station will cease operating on that day.

The interchange has been described as a modern hub. It will include seating, CCTV and LED lighting.

And it will also be eco friendly with a special Ethylene Tertafluoroethylene roof which is a lightweight alternative to glass.