ROTHERHAM INTERCHANGE REFURBISHMENT WORKS DUE TO START ON 30 APRIL

Published 21 March 2018 at 1:35pm

Construction work is programmed to start on Monday 30 April for a £12 million upgrade and refurbishment of Rotherham Interchange by South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE).

“Changes on the Interchange will include improved lighting, glazing, seating and Passenger Information Displays (PIDs), plus new floors and an improved CCTV system. The car park will benefit from new surfacing, bigger spaces for modern cars, designated walking routes and new cladding”, says Ben Gilligan, Director of Public Transport at SYPTE.

“The car park requires life extending repairs and improvements and internal repairs were needed in the interchange after the bus fire, in May 2016. All this gave us an opportunity to refresh the whole site.

“Having a temporary bus station means the building contractors will be able to work intensively on the interchange. The project is on track to be delivered by Spring 2019, as planned.”

A temporary facility is currently being built at Forge Island, around 300 metres away from the interchange itself, to accommodate the bus services whilst the works are being carried out, minimising customer disruption. Additional temporary stops will be placed on Corporation Street.

Bus services are set to do their last journeys to and from Rotherham Interchange on Saturday 28 April, being transferred to Rotherham Forge Island bus station on Sunday 29 April.

While the works take place, the interchange and car park will be closed, but the café, shops in the mall and customer toilets will remain open. A cash only ticket machine will be available at Rotherham Interchange, and customers will be able to use a card only ticket machine at Forge Island bus station.

SYPTE is already engaging with community groups to help them with the transition and customer focused drop-in events will be held at Rotherham Interchange in front of the former Travel Information Centre the week commencing Monday 9 April as follows:

• Monday 9 April – 09:00 to 12:00
• Tuesday 10 April – 12:00 to 15:00
• Wednesday 11 April – 09:00 to 12:00
• Thursday 12 April – 15:00 to 18:00
• Friday 13 April – 12:00 to 15:00

The public information campaign also includes customer information panels at the interchange, posters and leaflets on buses, as well as messages on social media.

The refurbished interchange and car park are part of the Rotherham Town Centre Masterplan, led by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC).

Councillor Denise Lelliott, Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy, said the work was an exciting development for Rotherham Town Centre.

“The new interchange is a key part of our plans to regenerate the area, as part of the town centre masterplan, and promoting sustainable transport is an important element of this. I look forward to seeing work starting on this fantastic new facility for people visiting, living and working in Rotherham.”