Leigh Bus Station Refurbishment

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Project Title: Leigh Bus Station Refurbishment

Client: Transport for Greater Manchester

Project Duration: 6 Months (March – September 2015)

Project Value: 1.5M

Scope: To carry out extensive remodelling and refurbishment works to Leigh Bus Station.

Externally

Re-glazing and structural steel alterations to the existing bus station stands
Alterations to existing levels throughout the station to accommodate guided bus way
The installation of a large bespoke cycle hub including all ground works and steel superstructure.
General ground works to accommodate new levels throughout the stands block paving, wayfinding etc
Trespa cladding to the external facade of the main bus station building
General decoration
Installation of a bespoke CCTV system

Internally

Extensive remodelling of public bus station toilets.
Structural works within the building to create new travel centre and retail areas
Fit out of the travel centre and retail areas
Installation of bespoke CCTV, intruder and fire alarm systems.
Full M&E installation
Decoration and remodeling of back of house areas (offices, kitchen install etc)

Left: Leigh Bus Station Main concourse prior to commencement

After being selected as preferred contractor JCL took on responsibility for the projects delivery in a live environment, ensuring the continuation of services for the large busy station. Leigh Bus Station is situated in the heart of the town right outside the main shopping centre and careful co-ordination with bus station staff and local business stakeholders was essential to ensuring the projects’ success. After many months of careful planning JCL commenced the first phase of works in March 2015.

Phase 1 – this involved the re-glazing of the bus stands and establishing the temporary travel shop for the bus station staff to use. Meanwhile JCL took possession of the main concourse and front of house areas for the main refurbishment works during phase 2.

The re-glazing and painting of the 3 stands in the phase 1 works (as shown on the drawing above), had to be done in a live bus station environment and was meticulously planned in conjunction with the bus station staff to ensure minimal disruption to the public. JCL took possession of one stand on a Sunday and began de-glazing out of hours whilst the bus station was quiet. Painting would then commence on the Monday morning. The plan was that each stand would take 2 weeks to fully refurbish before moving onto the next stand.

The main challenges JCL overcame whilst executing this work were:

Making sure that is had zero impact on bus operations due to careful planning and working closely with bus station staff.
Ensuring that all works were completed on time regardless of weather conditions etc (i.e arranging for additional labour/out of hours working to keep on programme)
Health and Safety – ensuring the safety of all of our operatives and staff whilst working in a live bus station environment and the safety of the public. Traffic management plans etc.
Establishing clear pedestrian walkways and signage to stands showing alterations to services.

The second part of the phase 1 works was creating a standalone Portakabin which was to become the temporary travel shop for the bus station staff whilst the main body of works was executed. The bespoke Portakabin had to be fitted out with its own fire and intruder systems which were linked back to the main building and CCTV which was all integrated within the existing red care link up. The portakabin was positioned on land adjacent to the main building. The land was normally occupied by local fast food businesses. JCL had to liaise with these stakeholders to relocate them in order to establish the temporary travel office. The main challenges JCL overcame whilst executing this work were:

Liaising with local businesses and stakeholders to ensure no disruption to business. Giving them ample time before the move and ensuring that we had put all their concerns and queries to rest.
Liaising with the TfGM IS Department to install the Cat6 data requirements and CCTV etc for the installation and ensuring the security of the portakabin
Minimising disruption to Bus Station staff during the transition. (executing much of the work at weekends and out of hours ahead of them coming into work on the Monday).
Trying to make the Portakabin “Home from Home” and as comfortable for the occupants as possible. Additional security, heating and ventilation etc. JCL were on hand every day to iron out any potential problems and on call 24hrs a day.

Phase Two – This was the main phase of works and involved the installation of the cycle hub, remodelling of the concourse external areas (Trespa Cladding and structural works) and internal modifications.

Once all TfGM’s bus station staff were operational within the temporary accommodation JCL took possession of the main concourse and front of house areas. In order to establish a safe working area for our team, JCL installed a perimeter of timber hoarding and access gates (as indicated on (Above – steel frame glazed cyclehub at Leigh Bus Station) (the plan above).

JCL operated a strict one way system through the site which worked well in conjunction with the live bus station which was still operational outside the hoarding. The traffic management was executed by a skilled banksman. JCL also operated a strict drop of zone for materials and plant and all operatives and sub-contractors were required to park off site in order to minimise site traffic through the bus station and thus keep disruption to a minimum. All deliveries were scheduled for the quietest times of day in the bus station.

Minimising site traffic helped with the management of pedestrian footfall. The main gates of the site opened just in-front of zebra crossings both entry and exit points to the site. This was unfortunately unavoidable and therefore careful management of pedestrian movement was required. As the main works had resulted in the public toilets being closed temporarily this caused some minimal disruption to bus station users, however on occasion they would try to gain access to the site to try and use the toilets. (despite hoarding and signage). JCL personnel were all required to ensure that gates and all points of access were secure at all times and carefully managed when traffic was entering and exiting the drop off zones.

The ring and ride facility was also part of the main concourse and this was a service that was regularly used by the elderly and vulnerable bus users. The ring and ride incorporated wayfinder signage, and ramped access to the concourse. JCL worked with bus station to staff to relocate this to another stand including the installation of the ramp and key clamp rails to ensure continuation of this vital service.