Preston Bus Station – Bespoke Concrete Barriers
Bespoke precast barriers designed for safety, speed, and a live working environment
Meeting tight deadlines on a live transport hub
Lancashire County Council’s £23.3 million redevelopment of Preston Bus Station needed a protective barrier system that was safe, visually acceptable, and quick to install. With 80 bus gates remaining in daily operation, the project had to be completed in carefully phased stages – without disrupting public transport.
In collaboration with the contracts team at Engie, we designed and supplied a bespoke precast barrier solution that shortened programme times and provided a cost-effective alternative to in-situ construction.
Project Overview
- Client – Lancashire County Council
- Location – Preston, Lancashire
- Sector – Transport & Infrastructure
- Services Provided – Design, supply & installation
- Project – Redevelopment of Preston Bus Station
- Products Supplied – Bespoke precast concrete barriers
- Installation Duration – 3 phases
Project Background
The original design called for reinforced protective barriers to shield public waiting areas from bus movements. In-situ construction would have required longer site works, heavier temporary works, and greater disruption to passengers.
Instead, our precast solution allowed barriers to be manufactured off-site, delivered on schedule, and installed quickly during short possession windows – keeping the bus station operational throughout the redevelopment.
Our Solution
Why Bespoke Barriers?
We designed and supplied 33 reinforced L-shaped barriers, each 1.6 m high and 2.75 m long, weighing approximately 6 tonnes.
By optimising the geometry, concrete mix, and reinforcement, we reduced the overall unit weight by 30% compared to a conventional design – reducing both manufacturing and transportation costs while maintaining full structural performance.
Key benefits for this project included:
Off-site manufacture ensured consistent quality and accurate finishes.
Lighter units reduced handling and transport costs.
Vehicle-mounted crane installation placed each barrier in a single movement.
Phased delivery and installation minimised disruption on a live bus station site.
The Results
Installation was carried out by M3 using a vehicle-mounted crane, allowing the 6 T barriers to be positioned quickly and safely. The finished system provided the required structural protection while blending seamlessly into the modernised bus station design.
“Despite having to work around a fully operational bus station with a total of 80 gates, the installation worked like a dream. Closing off sections and keeping others open has been very complicated, but JP Concrete know exactly what they are talking about, especially with design and how elements of the concrete would form a visible, tactile part of the new structure.”
Phil Whelan – Engie
Products Used In This Project
The project-specific design of these barriers strikes a balance between strength, appearance, and speed of installation.
Manufactured off-site and optimised to reduce weight by 30%, they provided a more efficient alternative to on-site construction and kept the redevelopment on track.