Rochdale Interchange progress marked

Cllr Andrew Fender, Chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee was invited to Rochdale Interchange on Monday to tighten the final bolt of the newly erected steelwork

A special bolt tightening ceremony marking the fourth month of construction of Rochdale’s new transport interchange has taken place.

Cllr Andrew Fender, Chairman of the Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) Committee was invited to Rochdale Interchange to tighten the final bolt of the newly erected steelwork.

Cllr Fender was given a tour of the building works accompanied by officials from Kier Construction, the company appointed to build the new interchange.

The £11.5m Smith Street interchange is scheduled to open next year and is being jointly funded by the Department of Transport, TfGM and Rochdale Borough Council.

Once completed, the interchange will be a European first: a reduced carbon public transport hub running with the aid of hydropower, thanks to an innovative hydroelectric turbine installed next to the interchange site which converts energy from the River Roch into electricity.

For passengers, the interchange will boast 14 bus stands coordinated by LCD information boards, a Travelshop and fully accessible public toilets. In future, it will also provide easy access to the new Rochdale Town Centre Metrolink stop.

Councillor Fender said: “It was a privilege to be invited to take part and I am very encouraged by the excellent work that is going on to construct the new interchange.

“Rochdale Interchange will be a very striking gateway into the town and will provide improved public transport options for local residents, including the new Metrolink line.”

Alongside the interchange, and as part of the overall enhancement of the area, Rochdale Borough Council is planning to upgrade River Street and Faulkner Street, incorporating a new taxi rank and waiting shelter and improved loading facilities for local businesses. 

The turbine produces up to 86,000kWh of electricity every year, which will help to reduce the interchange’s carbon footprint by over a quarter.

It has been funded by Transport for Greater Manchester, the European Union’s INTERREG IVB Ticket to Kyoto project, the Northwest Development Agency, Rochdale Borough Council and the Environment Agency.

Rochdale Interchange is one of four major interchange projects being delivered by TfGM under an £85 million investment, with brand new facilities also being developed in Bolton and Wythenshawe and Altrincham Interchange undergoing a major refurbishment.