An independent expert has confirmed that the decision to close Bradford Interchange at the start of the year on safety grounds was the correct one.
Dr Mike Webster, a forensic structural engineer, has also backed a report which found the risk of resuming operations at the bus station is low, subject to control measures being in place.
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority is still working at pace on plans to bring the structure back into operation by January 2025.
The Combined Authority commissioned an in-depth report into the condition of the building after some concrete fell in the basement in January.
Public safety has been the number one priority throughout, so to ensure that Combined Authority is making a fully informed decision on reopening, it asked Dr Webster to examine the report and the steps it has taken so far.
Dr Webster backed the conclusions of structural engineering firm Jacobs, and said the Combined Authority had “proposed reasonably practicable steps for inspection, testing and assessment to address the uncertainties and assess the risks” ahead of reopening.
The findings will be discussed at the Combined Authority’s Transport Committee on 14 October.
Dr Webster’s report paves the way for the Combined Authority to take a final decision to reopen by January at its next full meeting in a few weeks.
“It’s absolutely right that we take a belt and braces approach to the reopening of the Interchange bus station, so I welcome these findings,” said Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin.
“Public safety remains our number one priority – and we are working as fast as we can to ensure Bradford Interchange can safely reopen to bus passengers as soon as possible.”
Mitigation measures to be implemented include structural monitoring through periodic safety inspections and the provision of netting in the basement, alongside a staged reopening and preparation of an incident management plan.
“The condition of the Interchange is compatible with what I would expect of a 50-year-old reinforced concrete structure,” Dr Webster said in his report.
In addition, he found the Combined Authority had “taken the reasonably practicable steps to be expected of a competent Authority” since January.
Jacobs also found that the rationale for the closure was robust based on the evidence at the time.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council and chair of the Combined Authority’s transport committee, said: “I’m relieved to see that the Combined Authority is now working towards re-opening the Bus Interchange. The report confirms that this can be done safely with the right steps in place.”
The lower concourse of the Interchange is set to open by the end of this month to improve access to the Interchange railway station.
The Combined Authority has been reassured that while the wider structure has reached the end of its design life, it can remain operational for longer with a certain level of investment.
Further details on the future of the Interchange – including a date for reopening – will be brought to the next Combined Authority meeting on 31 October.
