The President of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has visited North East landmarks during an annual visit to the region.
Following a Breakfast Debate on infrastructure at Newcastle University, and a discussion about the city’s geothermal energy capacity, Richard Coackley visited the New Tyne Crossing for a tour of the completed road tunnels and the soon-to-be-refurbished pedestrian tunnel.
On Thursday, April 26, Mr Coackley took part in the Great Infrastructure Debate at Newcastle University. The event was set up in partnership with ICE North East, The Great Debate, the Living Laboratory, new economics foundation, RCE North East / NECTER and Newcastle, Northumbria and Durham Universities and was facilitated by Dr Caspar Hewett, Director of The Great Debate.
Also taking part in the debate were:
- Edward Bentley, Northumbria University;
- Richard Dawson, Newcastle University;
- Stephanie Henderson, Environment Agency;
- Laura O’Toole, Jacobs
- Tony Quinn, National Renewable Energy Centre (Narec);
Mr Coackley has adopted the theme “Harnessing Energy” for his term as President of ICE. He identified that the North East is well placed to continue to grow as an energy hub, especially with regard to offshore construction, renewables and sustainable energy.
Mr Coackley reiterated his “Harnessing Energy” theme by urging everyone present at the debate to encourage more young people to go into engineering and to create environments in industry where training and apprenticeships can flourish.
Richard Coackley then went on to meet Professor Paul Younger of Newcastle University to discuss Geothermal Energy and the prospects for deep heat in central Newcastle. Professor Younger, Director of the University’s Newcastle Institute for Research on Sustainability, is leading the £1,200,000 project, which has already successfully drilled to 1,821m under the heart of the city in search of renewable energy. Funded by the Newcastle Science City Partnership and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), this ambitious project involves experts from both Newcastle and Durham universities and the British Geological Society.
The ICE President then visited the recently completed New Tyne Crossing for a tour of the completed road tunnels and the soon-to-be-refurbished pedestrian tunnel. Mr Coackley will present the New Tyne Crossing with a special Robert Stephenson Award at the ICE North East’s annual dinner and prestigious Robert Stephenson Awards on Thursday 26th April.
He said: “The New Tyne Crossing is a great example of excellence in civil engineering and infrastructure upgrading. The result of the second tunnel is betterquality of life for thousands of regular drivers of this route who now spend less time in traffic and more time doing the things they want to doThis is the beauty of civil engineering and why I have dedicated my life to it – it adds real value to society.”
Mr Coackley has spent two days in the region, where earlier in his visit, he attended Gosforth Central Middle School, Newcastle upon Tyne and took part in a bridge-building activity with Year 6 pupils who worked together to build a 14m long cable stayed bridge using a special kit and then walked across it to show the strength of the construction.