29.11.07
10th annual historic civil engineering infrastructure excellence awards announced
The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has announced the four winners of the Historic Bridge and Infrastructure Awards 2007 (HBIA), with four more conservation projects receiving Commendations. The awards, now in their tenth year, celebrate civil engineering heritage conservation across England and Wales.
The awards were sponsored by ICE's Panel for Historical Engineering Works (PHEW), the County Surveyors' Society Bridges Group, English Heritage, Network Rail and British Waterways.
Professor Roland Paxton, chairman of HBIA, commented: "Nominations for the award have grown steadily over the last ten years and the standard of entries has remained exceptionally high. The Awards celebrate and encourage excellence and innovation in historic civil engineering and I'd like to congratulate all of the
25 nominees."
The four award winning projects were:
Shaken Bridge reconstruction, Helmsley, North Yorkshire. Badly damaged by a flash flood in 2005, this 280-year-old structure required extensive restoration involving the integration of both traditional and modern materials and techniques. Judges praised the high level of craftsmanship, which ensured the preservation of Shaken Bridge's appearance.
High Level Bridge cast iron testing and research, Newcastle. The innovative research techniques employed on this iconic 155-year-old railway bridge both greatly enhanced knowledge of the fatigue performance of cast iron and enabled significant savings on unnecessary strengthening projects.
Weetwood Bridge stabilisation, Wooler, Northumberland. Extensive use of remote monitoring and a commendable archaeological report enabled the preservation of this medieval structure's unique character and appearance during stabilisation work.
West Park Bridge restoration, Wolverhampton. Judges praised the project's attention to detail and sensitivity to the original fabric of this Victorian cast-iron footbridge.
The judges also gave commendations to a further four projects:
Rockingham Street Bridge strengthening, Elephant and Castle Victoria Footbridge refurbishment, Hereford Wellington Street Swing Bridge refurbishment, Kingston upon Hull Blisworth Tunnel south portal repair, Northants
Another project received special mention:
Foxton Heritage Lottery Fund project, Leicestershire
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