A STRIKING ‘skylink’ bridge connecting the £48 million interchange to the town’s railway station is taking shape.

The first of four large steel spans making up the bridge, was delivered to the Newport Street compound at around midnight yesterday.

The pedestrian bridge is a key aspect of the interchange project — which is being created by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) at the corner of Great Moor Street and Newport Street.

The first span, which is 3.8m high, 20.1m long and 3.6m high and weighs 30.5 tonnes, will remain on site on the back of a trailer, where it will be prepared and clad before being lifted into place alongside a second section by a 750 tonne crane.

The bridge is being constructed by Network Rail and Murphy Group.

TfGM Committee Chairman, Councillor Andrew Fender, said: “I’m sure commuters and passers-by this morning were interested to see this heavyweight example of the rapid progress on-site at Bolton Interchange.

“When complete later this year, the new interchange will transform a key gateway into the town centre and provide much-improved facilities for passengers, so it really is an exciting time for Bolton.”

As part of the bridge installation, the taxi rank on Newport Street outside Bolton rail station has been temporarily relocated to bus stand D.

As a result, bus services 22, 36, 500, 501, 519, 520, 527, 551, 570, 571, 572 will temporarily pick up from the bus stop further up Newport Street, opposite Section Street, which will be signposted to customers.

The new Bolton Interchange will provide better passenger information and ticketing facilities and a safer, more secure waiting environment.

It will also offer improved links between the town’s bus services and rail station, as well as providing a far more attractive “gateway” to and from the town centre.

The transport interchange is being delivered by TfGM in partnership with Bolton Council, and forms part of the regeneration of Newport Street.

The scheme is being funded by the Greater Manchester Transport Fund and will open later this year.

Alongside the bus depot, Bolton Council is developing a new £6 million office block as part of the regeneration of the area