Forget the controversy – the i360 is now taking shape on the seafront.

Yesterday we spoke to the man who has to meet the deadlines and make sure the attraction is ready for its grand opening next year.

Neal Mardon is the project manager for engineering firm Hollandia at the i360 project - the company who helped build the London Eye and Wembley Stadium.

Each day he puts on his hard hat and has to make sure the ambitious construction project stays on schedule.

There is no stopping the multinational team as they have to battle the weather and break new ground technologically as they construct the one of a kind attraction.

It has been designed by Marks Barfield Architects – the team behind the London Eye.

The engineer proudly said the project was currently running ahead of schedule thanks to a pair of swift landings by the pair of 1,000 tonne barges who managed to complete three days’ work in just two.

Parts have been made in Holland and transported from Rotterdam in a 33-hour journey on two 66m barges.

The barges were moored at Shoreham and the so-called “cans” were then taken to Brighton beach when the tide was right.

“What took an awful lot of planning from my part was the beach landings which were planned to minute detail – we had an awful lot of contact and liaison with the local authorities.” Mr Mardon said.

“There were many meetings and lots of paperwork submitted so the beach landings were well planned and went perfectly – the weather was kind to us as well which was a massive bonus.

“It was very stressful. For the second beach landing the barge was here at 3am, so a very early start.”

With nearly all the parts now safely on Brighton Beach he said the “next challenge” is going to be getting the tower completed as they battle the elements.

He said: “We check the forecast probably around five times a day, we have wind readers on site to monitor everything – it is all about keeping an eye on it.

“We are governed by wind, if the wind speeds are too high we have to stop

“Getting the tower up is the next big goal and to continue getting the main building ready.

“There is no way the tower would have been able to be erected in winter months.

“The programme has been fitted to suit the conditions to give us the best chance of getting it done as soon as possible.”

Mr Mardon moved to Brighton four years ago and was drafted in to work on the i360 earlier this year, saying “it was something I really wanted to be a part of.”

“I absolutely fell in love with the place and I cannot see myself leaving to be honest, it is a great city and I think this is going to be great for the city as well”, he said.

He added: “This is definitely the most high profile project I have worked on in terms of public and worldwide interest.

“It is something I really enjoy, I like ‘different’ projects and this is about as different as you can get.”

The 162-metre observation tower, the world’s first vertical cable car, is set to be completed next summer.

Described by Mr Mardon as like a “giant Meccano kit” they are currently using cranes to move the cans -weighing up to 80 tonne cans - into place and constructing the jacking tower device – which is likened to a giant car jack.

The jacking tower will lift the entire central pillar so the engineers can slide the final sections into place from the ground up as the i360 is far too tall to use a crane to complete.

Mr Mardon joked some people in the engineering world find the jacking tower device more impressive than the i360 itself.

“It is a challenging programme.

“But it is one we can embrace and enjoy.

“We are on track and are doing well, the tower is going up nice and fast and everything is going to plan.

“The summer of next year is still the opening day” said Mr Mardon.

He continued: “Hollandia are aiming for September to have the tower up then it will be handed to French company Poma.

“Poma will want to be in a position where they have the pod chassis built and then they will be doing their testing from early next year.

“Obviously we need to make sure we have the permanent power supply on by the end of this year, which is challenging, because there is an awful lot of work to be done.

Once the tower has been constructed it will be up to Poma to build the pod which will carry the 200 passengers up and down the tower – with them expected to start work in October.

Mr Mardon said: “They will be building the pod on the upper esplanade and by the early part of next year people should be able to see the pod going up and down as they test it – those are the next big milestones.”

“In the background as well you will have Mackley Civil Engineering from Sussex bringing the concrete frame up for the main building.”