A NEW-LOOK £2 million pound bus station in Bolton will be completed within weeks.

The new Newport Street bus station, which links with the town's railway station, will include covered walkways to protect bus passengers from the elements while they wait for their bus.

There will be fewer stands in the bus station, but new stops in Newport Street itself.

The design, by Manchester-based architect Jefferson Sheard, also includes a bigger taxi rank alongside the railway station. A path from the train station to Newport Street will be lined with trees and there will be lighting on the walls. CCTV cameras will cover the area.

work was due to have been finished on the bus station by last autumn, but the scheme hit a snag when changes were made to the design.

Transport bosses say they have been assured by contractors that the scheme will be finished by March.

Michael Renshaw, Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive's projects director, said: "Bolton Interchange was in clear need of a major overhaul and around £2 million has been spent on developing it over the past year.

"We made major improvements to the rail station last year and our contractors tell us that the remaining works will be completed next month.

"We expect to see the new taxi rank and footways open in February, with the redeveloped bus station to follow in March.

"The improvements will be a major boost for the immediate area around the interchange and the town generally and I'd like to thank passengers and businesses in the area for bearing with us while the work is underway.'

Businesses in the Newport Street area said temporary closure of the bus station had killed off passing trade, which they feared they had lost forever, and affected access to their premises.

Some firms say they may launch a bid for compensation once work is finished.

Further problems have been caused, say traders, by delays to the £3m arched bridge on Newport Street, which was also due to be open to traffic by last autumn.

The project, which is being managed by Network Rail, is also due to be finished by March.

Improvements to other stations in Bolton are also due for completion shortly, including a ticket office and waiting room at Horwich Parkway train station, which serves the Middlebrook retail park and the Reebok Stadium.

The work, costing £615,000, will be finished by the end of February.