Our Work
Preston Bus Station
Project Summary
- Start date: 2025
- Completion date: 2025
Introduction
Preston Bus Station is one of Lancashire’s most recognisable public buildings and a busy piece of transport infrastructure. Repair works in this type of environment need to do more than restore a surface. They must protect public safety, maintain essential access and avoid unnecessary disruption to daily travel.
Lancashire County Council required a practical repair solution for areas that were showing deterioration and surface failure. The works had to be robust enough for heavy use, but also capable of being delivered around the operational demands of a live bus station.
Bambers delivered the project through careful sequencing, restricted hours working and fast curing MMA systems. This allowed essential repairs to be completed while supporting continuity for bus services, staff, visitors and car park users.
Project Overview
Protecting Critical Access Routes in a Live Transport Environment
The project focused on two high priority areas: the car park ramp and the main entrance. Both areas are important to the safe and reliable use of the bus station and required repair methods suitable for regular vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
The existing surfaces had deteriorated, with failed coatings and delaminated areas needing to be removed before a new system could be applied. The specification required thorough preparation to create a sound substrate, followed by a durable multi layer MMA system designed for heavy use environments.
At the main entrance, the operational challenge was particularly acute. Works had to be carried out during restricted night time hours so that the area could be reopened quickly for bus station operations. Fast curing MMA mortar, with curing times of approximately one hour, played an important role in achieving this.
Project Details
Property Type
Public transport infrastructure, including bus station access areas and car park ramp
Client
Lancashire County Council
Scope
Concrete repairs to the car park ramp and main entrance, including removal of failed coating, mechanical preparation and installation of MMA primer, membrane, mortar and top coat systems.
Occupancy
Fully operational throughout, with continuous vehicle, pedestrian, staff and public use around the works areas.
Challenges
Overcoming Challenges
- The bus station remained operational throughout the works, with live vehicle and pedestrian movements around key access routes.
- Both the car park ramp and main entrance were high-use areas, meaning access could not be restricted for longer than necessary.
- Weather delays affected the programme across both work phases and required active recovery planning.
- The main entrance repairs had to be completed within restricted night time working windows.
- Failed coatings, deteriorated surfaces and delaminated material required full mechanical preparation before the new system could be installed.
- The works needed to balance safety, programme, public access and long term durability in a busy public setting.
Solutions
How We Delivered
- Works were phased on the car park ramp to maintain access and reduce disruption to users.
- Weekend working was introduced to recover programme delays caused by adverse weather.
- Night time working was adopted for the main entrance to avoid interrupting daytime bus station operations.
- Fast curing MMA materials were used to allow repaired areas to be reopened quickly after installation.
- Full mechanical preparation was carried out to remove failing coatings and create a suitable base for the new system.
- A multi layer MMA system, including primer, membrane and top coat, was installed to provide a durable finish suitable for heavy-use areas.
Fast Curing MMA System
The use of MMA technology allowed time critical areas to be repaired and reopened quickly, reducing downtime in essential access zones.
Car Park Ramp Refurbishment
Failed coatings were removed and replaced with a new durable surface system designed to withstand regular vehicle use.
Main Entrance Repairs
The main entrance was repaired during restricted working hours, helping maintain access to one of the bus station’s most important public-facing areas.
Improved Surface Durability
The new primer, membrane and top coat system improved adhesion, protection and long-term performance across the repaired areas.
Safer Public and Vehicle Access
Removing defective and delaminated surfaces helped reduce risks for pedestrians, staff, bus operators and car park users.
Operational Continuity
Careful planning, sequencing and fast-curing materials enabled works to progress while the bus station continued to function.
Value Added
For Lancashire County Council
- Delivered a durable repair solution for two high priority public access areas.
- Reduced the likelihood of repeat short term repairs in heavily used locations.
- Supported continued operation of a key public transport facility.
- Demonstrated flexible delivery around live site constraints, weather delays and restricted access windows.
- Provided a practical example of specialist repair works delivered in a complex public environment.
For Bus Station Users and the Local Community
- Maintained safe access to an essential transport hub used by commuters, visitors, staff and bus operators.
- Minimised disruption to daily journeys through night time, weekend and phased working.
- Improved the condition and safety of high use surfaces at important access points.
- Helped protect the reliability and resilience of local public transport infrastructure.
Social Value
The project supported Lancashire County Council’s social value priorities by protecting a key public transport asset while creating wider benefits through local delivery, skills development and reduced disruption.
Bambers planned the works around live bus station operations, including night time and weekend working where required, helping maintain safe access for commuters, students, visitors, pedestrians, car park users and local businesses.
The project also supported the local economy through the use of locally based labour, subcontractors and suppliers where available, helping retain spend within Lancashire and the wider North West supply chain.
Skills development was supported through supervised site experience for apprentices, trainees or developing operatives, with exposure to specialist concrete repair, surface preparation, MMA systems and live public sector working environments.
By repairing failed and delaminated surfaces before deterioration worsened, the works also helped extend the life of the existing asset and reduce the need for more disruptive future maintenance.
Quality Compliance & Delivery Control
Bambers maintained delivery control through careful planning, surface preparation and sequencing. In a live bus station environment, the quality of the repair depended not only on the product used, but on preparing the substrate correctly and allowing each layer of the system to perform as intended.
The team removed failing coatings, mechanically prepared the surfaces and installed a multi layer MMA system in line with the requirements of the works. Close communication was needed throughout to manage access, weather disruption and reopening requirements.
This approach helped ensure the repaired areas were handed back as safe, usable and durable surfaces suitable for continued heavy use.
What Makes This Project Stand Out?
Preston Bus Station stands out because the works were delivered in a highly visible, high use public environment where access and continuity mattered as much as the technical repair itself.
The project required the team to work around live operations, changing weather conditions and restricted working windows, while still delivering a durable repair system suitable for heavy traffic use.
For local authority clients, it provides a clear example of Bambers’ ability to deliver specialist repair works in sensitive public settings where planning, communication and flexibility are essential.
Feedback
Total Project Cost
£75,000
2 Weeks
Duration
£75,000
Total Cost
Preston
Location
Closed
During Works
Before Gallery
After Gallery
