NEW views of the stunning ‘skylink’ bridge at Bolton’s new £48 million transport interchange have been revealed.

The Bolton News was given an exclusive look inside the new bridge as the massive town centre building project nears completion.

It is expected that the new bus station and the bridge will be ready to open together on September 3 — almost four years after work began at the corner of Great Moor Street and Newport Street.

The bridge was lifted into place in April and work began yesterday to open up a section of the railway station's foyer in order to provide direct access to the adjacent interchange.

Sliding electric doors will be installed where the cafe is currently located at the railway station to open out at the entrance to the bridge.

New cafe provisions are planned as part of improvements works being carried out at the station by Network Rail.

In the final weeks of the bridge’s construction, contractors will be installing flooring, ceiling panels, lighting, and handrails.

Cllr David Chadwick, Bolton Council’s cabinet member for transport, said: “Having good access between the railway station and the bus interchange is really important for us.

“It is wonderful to be able to walk along the bridge for the first time and see how the two are linked together.

“The next six months is going to be really exciting for Bolton in terms of the transport improvements that are coming.

“As well as the interchange opening, we are also going to have electric trains running through Bolton for the first time — that is something I did not think I would see in my lifetime.

“I think that when people see this place when it opens they will be really impressed, just as I am.”

Since The Bolton News last visited the new transport hub in March, significant work has been undertaken laying the external surfaces at the bus bay.

There are 23 bus stands in total and the most frequent services will enter the station from Newport Street, while most buses will access the interchange from Great Moor Street.

Signs have now been installed at each of the bus stands and across the interior of the interchange.

The final flagstones are being laid outside the main entrance, where a cycle hub is also located.

Inside, a cafe is under construction on the main concourse and a unit is being prepared for a newsagent to move in next to the entrance.

Karl Woolfenden, TfGM project manager, is confident that the station can remain in top condition long after it opens.

He said: "It is very light, very airy, and very open — so it is quite a secure environment. At similar locations like this interchange we have had fewer reports of graffiti and other things like that because it is just not that kind of environment."

Although there will be a 20p cost to use the toilets at the interchange, TfGM officials say that the charge is designed to prevent them from being misused rather than to make money.

They added that they would consider trialling a scheme where customers could be given coins by interchange staff to use the toilets.

The opening of the interchange will follow the completion of roadworks on Great Moor Street, which is due to reopen fully in the coming weeks.

Once it reopens, Great Moor Street will become one-way only, with drivers only able to access it from Bradshawgate.

Masterplan for £1 BILLION transformation of Bolton town centre is unveiled

Another major transport project is also due to start at Bolton railway station in August.

The station will be shut to almost all services for two weeks from August 12 to 27 while Network Rail carries out work to bring a fifth platform back into use.

Further improvements also include modifying existing platforms and canopies, as well as remodelling the track and upgrading signalling.