FOUR car parks will close today as builders step up work on the new £48 million Bolton interchange.

But a new multi-storey car park could also be built close to Bolton train station as part of plans being discussed by Network Rail and Bolton Council.

NCP will close three car parks on Johnson Street as well as parking spaces in Bollings Yard, so contractors can get into the sites for more groundwork preparations on Monday.

Work planned in the area includes building a new electricity sub-station, diverting existing electricity cables, site clearance work and putting down access routes for construction vehicles.

Peter Boulton, head of programme management at Transport for Greater Manchester, said work on the interchange would accelerate in the coming weeks.

He said: “The new interchange will significantly improve the public transport facilities in the town.

“While I appreciate that there will be disruption during its construction, I am sure that the benefits to passengers and the town centre will be worth it.

“We will be starting a number of preparatory works on the site this month, including building a new electricity sub-station and clearing the site before the main construction work starts later this year.”

As part of ongoing changes to public transport in Bolton, the possibility of a fifth platform at Bolton train station has been mooted by transport chiefs.

This would see the current car park at the train station go, but director of development and regeneration at Bolton Council Keith Davies, said the authority was in talks with Network Rail about creating a new multi-storey car park.

He said: “Network Rail are very keen to talk to us about the potential for a multi-storey car park.

“It is something that we have started to discuss with them and they are keen to take these discussions forward.”

In the meantime, motorists will be re-directed to other NCP car parks, including the Octagon multi-storey.

When built, the new interchange will replace the existing bus station in Moor Lane, and connect with the train station via a “skylink” footbridge.

Council leader Cllr Cliff Morris said the town would benefit from the new development.

He said: “We understand that there may be some inconvenience caused to motorists but the works are necessary, and motorists will be signposted to other car parks.

“The interchange will transform a key gateway into the town centre and will act as a catalyst for regenerating the wider town centre area.”