London Bridge Bus Station: next phase of work begins

Commuters arriving by train or tube wanting to catch buses 17, 43 or 141 will have a longer walk; the buses will terminate at the southern end of London Bridge rather than following their usual route into the station.

The routes will pick up passengers at bus stop M and set down at stop Y.

Route 17 is expected to return to the bus station at the end of January 2012 but the temporary arrangements for the 43 and 141 routes will remain in place for six months.

Between Christmas and New Year St Thomas Street will be temporarily closed to allow the pedestrian footbridge between the station and Guy's Hospital to be removed.

A new escalator and lift linking the station with St Thomas Street and Great Maze Pond will be ready in May 2012.

The new bus station is due to be completed in May 2012. Transport for London says the new layout will reduce congestion. Features include a new escalator link to the underground station.

The new bus station is part of the planning agreement for the development of the Shard and The Place at London Bridge Quarter. Work started more than a year ago. In the spring the old brown canopy was removed.