A project which has seen the canals in Droitwich brought back into productive use after a 40-year effort by campaigners was the big winner at the ICE West Midlands Annual Awards on 9 May. Seven further awards were given out on the night and five projects were highly commended.
The Awards – which celebrate the best in civil engineering projects across the West Midlands – were attended by more than 300 engineering professionals.
The Droitwich Canals Restoration project was undertaken by British Waterways and involved the creation of a linear park centred on the restored Droitwich Canals, conserving and enhancing the natural and built environment.
The canals were reopened in July 2011, marking the end of a 38-year fundraising drive to restore the lost canals.
In addition to the Construction award, the project was also viewed by the judges to be the best overall scheme and it was roundly applauded by the judges for its use of exceptional construction techniques across a broad range of areas. It was commended for overcoming many difficult elements over a 9 mile stretch of canal.
Prizes were also presented to the partners, led by Amey on behalf of the Highways Agency, involved in the maintenance of the Midland Links Motorway Viaducts, a total of 1,300 reinforced concrete supports on the M5 and M6 throughout the West Midlands who won the Innovation prize for a groundbreaking alignment bolt.
Severn Trent Water’s One Supply Chain West Non-Infrastructure project to deliver water and wastewater treatment schemes received the Partnership award while the Sustainability award was shared between the development of Dawley & Mainslee in Telford and a road sweepings recycling scheme led by Warwickshire County Council, both of which have helped local authorities make significant cost savings.
The Association of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Specialists’ data project was the recipient of the Team Achievement award with a project to strengthen and refurbish the Holt Fleet Bridge in Worcestershire winning the Heritage Award.
Alastair Templeton, Chairman of ICE West Midlands, said: “This year’s awards show the diversity of the work delivered by civil engineers in our region.
“From bringing disused sites back into use – such as the Droitwich Canals and Dawley and Mainslee projects – to wide-ranging maintenance and recycling schemes, the work of civil engineers is helping society tackle challenges.
“These awards have been an opportunity to recognise the contribution they make to society and I would like to congratulate all of the winners and highly commended projects for the manner in which, in a number of ways, they showed excellence in civil engineering.”
The ICE West Midlands Awards 2012 winners are:
Construction and Award and Overall Winner – Droitwich Canals Restoration - British Waterways with Wychavon District Council, Worcestershire County Council, The -Waterways Trust and Droitwich Canal Trust
Innovation Award – Midlands Links Alignment Bolt – Amey with R&C Williams
Partnership Award – One Supply Chain West Non-Infrastructure – Severn Trent Water with Mott MacDonald Bentley Ltd and Hyder Aecom JV
Sustainability Award – shared by Dawsley & Mainslee Regeneration project – Telford & Wrekin Council with Birse Civils – and Recycling of Road Sweepings – -Warwickshire County Council working with SITA UK
Team Achievement Award – AGS Data Management Committee project – Association of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Specialists
Heritage Award – Holt Fleet Bridge Strengthening & Refurbishment – Worcestershire County Council with Halcrow and Volkerlaser
Highly Commended Awards went to:
- Foxbank Bewdley - Geotechnics Ltd with P & S Consulting and WM Longreach Ltd
- Koutulai Community Projects - Engineers for Overseas Development and Salt Peter Trust
- Milford Borehole - Severn Trent Water with Mott MacDonald Bentley Ltd
- Shut Mill Cottage - David Symonds Associates, PJ Read Building Services and Peter Kite Associates
- The Shifnal Train Station - Mott MacDonald Bentley