THE new Blackburn Boulevard is taking shape and work will be finished this year.

The railway station, a listed building, has already been renovated, re-roofed and seen its brickwork cleaned. The clock has also been restored to working order.

And the bus station, which will include covered walkways, pedestrian crossings and landscaping, is on course to be completed by August in the £2 million facelift.

Funding has come from Blackburn Borough Council, Lancashire County Council, Railtrack, North West Regional Railways, Blackburn City Challenge and the Railway Heritage Trust.

Deputy Council leader Councillor Gail Barton said: "The finished scheme will be a major improvement to this important key area of Blackburn, and will contribute significantly to the regeneration of the town centre.

"The scheme will also complement the work which has already taken place in the shopping centre and the markets."

Graham Cowley of the council's technical services department said: "We are delighted with this new look and have gone to great lengths to ensure it blends in with the train station and cathedral. It'll now be a pedestrian-friendly Boulevard with improved lighting and closed circuit television."

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