Posted on October 2nd 2021

Press Release Oct 2021

Restoration

Gloucestershire’s Canal Roundabout – Double Award Winners

Whitminster Roundabout Canal Bridges in Gloucester has won two prizes at the South West’s most prestigious civil engineering event.

The winners of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) South West Civil Engineering Awards 2021 were announced by Rob Bell, TV presenter and engineer, on Thursday 30 September at a gala ceremony in the Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel.

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The new canal roundabout western bridge.

The county’s newest roundabout on the A38/A419 impressed both the judges and the public to attract two of the evening’s top awards. The Cotswold Canals Trust project to restore a missing section of the Stroudwater Navigation first won the Project under £8m New Build Award sponsored by Cormac and went on to clinch the People’s Choice Award, sponsored by AECOM, after getting the most support from the public in an online vote.

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Caption: (l-r standing) Alex, Macdonald, Graham Ellingford, Mike Gallop, Jennifer Dorman, Sarah Lewis, Jennifer Williamson, Rae Suemul, Mladen Dragojlovic, Aimee-Louise Malcolm, Glenn Dooley, Wesley Tudge, Katy Toms. (l-r kneeling) Graeme Berry, Ken Burgin, Mark Darlow-Joy. Credit: EventPhotographyBristol.

The judges praised the technical aspects of the scheme to restore a section of canal within a major roundabout. The project was funded by National Highways and supported and constructed by Gloucestershire County Council, Atkins and Alun Griffiths (Contractors).

Ten projects of all shapes and sizes from across the South West were vying to walk away with an award after a year that has seen civil engineers battle to overcome the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, keeping complex infrastructure works on track or delivering emergency schemes at breakneck speed.

Mike Gallop, Network Rail Western route director and Chair of the judging panel, said:

“These awards are an amazing showcase for our regional industry, highlighting the endeavour, passion and technical ability that goes into building things. But more than that, the awards shine a light on what infrastructure can do for people. It’s this human impact that has really defined the awards this year. In particular, how civil engineers in the South West have responded during a time of crisis to deliver on behalf of their communities.”

Young engineers representing future talent in the region were also recognised at the awards event. Katie Lawson, a civil engineering apprentice with Cormac Solutions in Cornwall won the Apprentice of the Year Award, sponsored by Tony Gee and Partners. Alex Kaye, a Transport Planner with Arup in Bristol, was presented with the Graduate of the Year Award, sponsored by WSP, with Sally Ameen of Richter, based in Exeter, was highly commended in the same category.

Miranda Housden, ICE South West Regional Director, said:

“The one thing all the winners have in common is the direct benefit they bring to people through their work. Our awards are a real tribute to the thousands of civil engineers who continue to bring huge societal benefits to people in the South West.”

Full details of all the shortlisted projects and awards sponsors are available at www.ice.org.uk/sw/awards.

Full list of winners

Project Awards:

Showcase Award – The Box, Plymouth
People’s Choice Award and Project Under £8m (New Build) Award – A38/A419 Whitminster Roundabout Canal Bridges
Judges’ Special Award and Community Award – Emergency Homeless Housing Project – Cornwall’s Rapid Response to COVID-19
Collaboration Award – NHS Nightingale Hospital Exeter
Project Over £8m (Re-Engineered) Award – Marine Parade, Dawlish
Project Over £8m (New Build) Award – Hinkley Point C Marine Works – Tunnels
Project Under £8m (Re-Engineered) Award – Helston Flood Alleviation Scheme

Individual Awards: