A major announcement has been made today over a multi-million pound redevelopment project in Gloucestershire.

Gloucestershire County Council has revealed that the new £7.5million bus station in Gloucester city centre will start to take shape over the coming months.

Work on the major road junction changes that will pave the way for the delivery of the new bus station will get under way next month.

While Gloucester City Council is managing the regeneration of the new bus station, the county council is responsible for the roads surrounding it.

Some of the changes to the road layout will include relocating pedestrian crossings and alterations to bus lanes.

Further works, which is expected to cause traffic disruption, include:

• A new junction between Station Road and Bruton Way

• Changes to the access for the NCP car park

• Alterations to Bruton Way

• Minor alterations to parking, taxi provision and drop-off locations

In April, work will start to reopen the Station Road junction and then progress over approximately nine months, in three phases to accommodate major utility diversions.

Spades will hit the ground for the bus station itself this autumn, with contractors Kier due on site to start clearing the area and preparing the ground for the bus station's foundations and underground drainage.

Cllr Paul James, leader of Gloucester City Council and cabinet member for regeneration, said: "I know there has been some comment about the lack of visible activity at the bus station site over the last few months.

"But behind the scenes both councils have been working hard on the detail of the highway changes and now we will start to see the outcome of that work.

"Whilst this is good news and represents real progress, we do recognise there will be disruption.

"We are, of course, mindful of the inconvenience this will cause in the short term but ask people to bear with us. It will be worth it once the new bus station is up and running."

Speaking about the highways work, Cllr Vernon Smith cabinet member for highways at Gloucestershire County Council, said: "The new bus station will play an integral part in the future of Gloucester.

"It will be bright, modern and welcoming to those who travel through it. These changes to the road surrounding will help make the station easily accessible."

What do you think about the plans? Email mark@moosemarketingandpr.co.uk 

Picture: an artist's impression of the new bus station in Gloucester