£1.9m Black Country bus station overhaul set to begin
Work will begin on a major £1.9 million overhaul to Cradley Heath bus station this weekend as bosses reveal plans for temporary bus stops in the town.
New passenger information and improved waiting areas will be created during the transformation of the interchange, next to the town's railway station.
The work is being paid for through the Better Bus Area Fund, a £10 million pot to improve public transport in Brierley Hill, around Merry Hill shopping centre and Cradley Heath.
The site, in Forge Lane, will close on September 28 for work to begin and which is scheduled to be completed in the New Year.
Cradley Heath railway station and Park and Ride will remain open and passengers will still be able to use the ticket office during opening hours.
Temporary bus stops will be in operation nearby while the adjoining railway station will continue to operate as normal.
Two temporary stops will be set up in Forge Lane with another in Lower High Street to cope with services re-directed from the station.
Both Forge Lane stops will have shelters accord to officials at Centro, the public transport co-ordinator across the West Midlands.
Centro chairman, Councillor John McNicholas, said that with 330 bus departures a day the current station no longer met the needs of a modern interchange.
"This is an exciting development for public transport in Cradley Heath," he added.
"Once completed the new interchange will offer the world class public transport facility our passengers deserve and have come to expect."
The new interchange will consist of six bus stands, four within the main building and two on a newly-constructed island stand.
Automatic doors are going to be installed at each stand that only open when the bus arrives.
Officials say the new main building will feature a 'bright and inviting' waiting area for bus and rail passengers who can use the facilities.
These include new toilets, electronic passenger information boards, enhanced safety and security measures like CCTV and Help Points and audio passenger information points.
As part of the scheme work is already underway on a £1.2 million bus priority and road improvement scheme in nearby Merry Hill.
It will see a new crossing facility on the A4036 Pedmore Road and some bus priority measures on The Boulevard, the main connecting road between Merry Hill Shopping Centre and Brierley Hill High Street.
This work is scheduled to finish by December.
