Bus and tram station opening delayed to autumn

A long-awaited £24m bus and tram station will not open before September, it has emerged.

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) confirmed the Dudley Interchange was now set to open this autumn, more than two-and-a-half years after the site shut.

Those behind the scheme had been hoped the regeneration would be finished this spring but construction is now expected to go on until the summer.

A TfWM spokesperson said the two-storey interchange would enable passengers to get to and from bus and new Metro services.

The news follows confirmation from Dudley Council leader Patrick Harley that phase one of the town's new Metro line would open on 28 August.

The Metro was originally planned to be unveiled in 2024.

A spokesperson said the new interchange's steel frame and room were complete, with a glass facade and weatherproofing to be completed in the "coming weeks".

"Once the exterior is finished, work will begin on the interior fit out and final roadworks and bus parking bays," they added.

"We are looking at a summer completion, followed by opening to the public during the autumn."

In addition to the Interchange and Metro schemes, work is being carried out on improvements to the Burnt Tree Junction, a major road into Dudley town centre.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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