Blackpool buses back to normal when bridge re-opens this month

Services 7, 11 and 18 have all been diverted throughout the winter months while improvement work has taken place on the bridge.

The structure, which has been closed since November 7 for repairs, is set to open a week earlier than originally planned.

However Blackpool Transport must register its services 56 days before running them and the new re-opening date was not announced until January 31.

Timetables will change on March 25.

Residents in the South Shore and Harrowside area will benefit from the service 18 using Clifton Drive.

A change to the service 17 timetable will also see journey times reduce by eight minutes between Blackpool and St Annes.

Shane Grindey, marketing manager at Blackpool Transport, said: “We’re doing our best to keep any disruption to a minimum whilst ensuring we can provide an integrated transport service which serves the needs of our customers.

“With Squires Gate Bridge re-opening, journey times will be quicker and we’re again able to provide a more direct link between Cleveleys, Blackpool, St Annes and Lytham.”

Coun Fred Jackson, cabinet member for highways on Blackpool Council, added: “It’s good news the bus services are going to resume as normal.

“I am delighted the bridge repairs have been done satisfactorily and a big thank you must go to the firm which has carried out the work as they have excelled themselves.”

Harrowside Bridge, which had been closed since last July for repairs, re-opened on February 2, seven weeks ahead of schedule. Drivers have had to find alternative routes during the closures.