BLACKBURN’S new £5 million bus station is on track for its New Year opening as the steelwork comes close to completion and the special glass frontage is being manuf-actured. These pictures show how the start of the public transport interc-hange is taking shape.

With work well under way on the year-long £4 million remodelling of the Ewood Gyratory System on the A666, Blackburn with Darwen’s part of the £40 million Pennine Reach scheme to speed buses between Hyndburn and the borough is now in full swing.

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Earlier this month the Government gave the green light for the controversial move of Accrington bus station from Peel Street to Crawshaw Street, paving the way for work to begin on that £6.4 million hi-tech complex.

Now, politicians and transport bosses are excited at the prospect of the Ainsworth Street bus station moving into its final construction stages prior to welcoming passengers from early 2015.

Blackburn with Darwen council regeneration boss Maureen Bateson said: “The bus station is progressing well. All the loops are now in place and the roof section is completed.

Blackburn MP Jack Straw said: “I am absolutely delighted to see the town’s bus station appearing before our eyes. It’s going to make a real difference to bus passengers.”