Major milestone reached at £26m transport scheme
A major milestone has been reached at a £26m transport scheme in Gloucestershire.
A topping-out ceremony was held at Arle Court Transport Hub to mark the scheme reaching its highest point.
Construction began on the new, improved transport hub in May 2023 and significant progress has been made since. Once complete, it will offer regular bus services to Cheltenham and Gloucester and better connections to local sustainable transport such as walking and cycling routes.
It will also provide a range of new and improved facilities on site. These include: a covered outdoor waiting area; real-time information screens and an information desk; an indoor waiting area with the opportunity for a refreshments facility; electric vehicle charge points; and toilets, including a dedicated Changing Places toilet.
David Gray, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, said: “We’ve made excellent progress and it’s fantastic to celebrate reaching this major milestone. The new and improved Arle Court Transport Hub is a vital scheme for the local area, not only in terms of providing better transport services but also reducing car journeys and carbon emissions.”
Work is being carried out by Kier Construction Limited, who were awarded the construction contract by Gloucestershire County Council following a competitive procurement process. The construction phase follows work that Kier had previously undertaken on the detailed design contract for the scheme.
Andy Bolas, regional director at Kier Construction Western & Wales, said: “It’s fantastic to see this project taking shape now and to be celebrating such a significant milestone in its construction. We’re proud to be working with Gloucestershire County Council to deliver a project which will provide a boost to sustainable transport links in Cheltenham and across the county.”
The agreed contract price for the Kier works is £26m, which is being funded by UK Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) administered by Homes England and by the council.
Construction on the transport hub and multi-storey car park is due to be completed in summer 2024, with subsequent works on the west car park to be completed by autumn 2024.
