Working in time-critical phases to allow the busy bus station to remain operational, a total of 33 precast barriers – each weighing 6.7t tonnes – have been designed and manufactured by JP Concrete.

JP Concrete have been able to share vital information with contractor Engie.

Engie, Design Manager Phil Whelan said: “We have all been under a huge amount of pressure to get the bus station handed over, especially with the first phase being such a learning curve.

“JP Concrete have been totally prepared throughout, working very hard to help us meet our important deadlines – proving easy to work with alongside our engineers, Westlake’s Consulting and AHR architects, who finalised the design of the East apron.

“After that tricky first section, the last phase is working like a dream.  This is despite having to work around such a big, fully operational bus station with a total of 80 gates prior to the redevelopment.

“Closing off sections and keeping others open has been very complicated, but JP Concrete know exactly what they are talking about, especially with design, impact requirements – and how elements of the concrete would form a visible, tactile part of the new structure”.

Fabricated from scratch, JP Concrete manufactured bespoke steel-finish moulds to create the 33 (6.7 t), barriers, designed to protect passengers.

The longest building of its type in Europe, Preston Bus Station’s ground floor area is big enough to house three aeroplanes.

The refurbishment aims to regenerate the best of the original 1969 design, replacing the lighting and existing timber rests with new, whilst retaining the original rubber floor.