The wait is almost over for new bus shelter at station

Construction has started on a long-awaited new bus shelter at Blenheim’s railway station.

The $300,000 reinforced glass bus stop, near the Dillons Point Rd entrance to the car park, is expected to take eight weeks to complete.

Fencing went up on Thursday to keep people out of the construction site. Buses will still stop at the railway station, but they will be temporarily relocated to the parking area near the i-Site.

Marlborough District Council economic, community and support services manager Dean Heiford says the shelter is a standalone structure and will not require modification to the existing platform canopy or the old station building.

‘‘Half the shelter will have partial glass walls for shelter from wind and rain and the rest will be open with just a roof giving the option of sitting inside during inclement weather or outside on more pleasant days.’’

The bus shelter will have lighting installed and will include provision for CCTV monitoring and real-time information, Dean says.

The Marlborough Friendship Force has campaigned for a new shelter at the railway station since 2013, when a group of Australian visitors they were hosting spent an hour waiting in the rain for a bus.

Committee member Judith Kerridge says she is very pleased work has started.

‘‘It’s going to be a great facility for those using the bus and the train when it restarts.

‘‘Half the shelter will have partial glass walls for shelter from wind and rain and the rest will be open with just a roof giving the option of sitting inside during inclement weather or outside on more pleasant days.’’

‘‘I’m delighted and very pleased that the council has found the time to put into this project. They have worked hard to get it going.’’

The Marlborough Friendship Force will host their next group of overseas visitors in November, with three more coming next year and Judith says it will be great to have the bus shelter ready for them.

‘‘It will be lovely to have that facility there that we can show off.’’

PHOTO: SCOTT HAMMOND/FAIRFAX NZ Campaigner Judith Kerridge, left, and deputy mayor Terry Sloane are excited for work to start on a new bus shelter at the Blenheim Railway Station.