With the off-peak winter season now in full swing on the Blackpool tramway, some signs of disruption have started to appear. This has also extended to road traffic, as preparations for the much-anticipated extension of the tramway up Talbot Road to North Station are now getting started.
Shortly after the end of the illuminations, work began on digging up areas of Talbot Road to enable the moving of utility pipes and prepare for the various infrastructure needed to construct the tramway extension. This has entailed closing off some of the road, with the promenade roadway also blocked off near North Pier. Happily this work does not affect the tram service – indeed with disruptions to bus services the trams may even benefit!
Meanwhile in unconnected developments, the large and historic northbound waiting shelter at Little Bispham is currently blocked off by fencing for unconfirmed reasons, rendering this stop unavailable to passengers. It is not known what work, if any, is to be undertaken on the building although this has nothing to do with the similar structure further south at Bispham – which is of course to be used as a cafe in the near future.