Civil Engineering Awards

A38 Mowhay Footbridge Widening

By making this area more accessible and improving links within Plymouth’s Strategy Cycle Network, many of Plymouth’s locals will be able to use more environmentally friendly and cost efficient modes of transport for commuting, as well as making the most of the opportunity to walk, run, wheel or cycle to different parts of the city.

The footbridge was widened using lightweight 3.5m wide precast concrete deck units installed on top of the existing deck across the A38. The existing concrete ramp and stairs at the top of the south end were removed and replaced with a new steel ramp and stairs structure supported on a reinforced concrete foundation.

The works also included the replacement of the bearings on the existing bridge and extension of the existing reinforced concrete north abutment including the provision of new access steps. New lighting columns were also installed around the ramps, with handrail lighting provided over the A38, making the bridge much safer for users in the dark.

Buckfast Abbey Fish Pass

This can impact the ability of fish to feed and breed, ultimately reducing their numbers in our rivers. Fish passes, like the one installed at Buckfast Abbey, allow fish to migrate past manmade structures, and thus can help to support thriving populations. This has knock-on benefits for society through enhanced biodiversity and improved opportunities for angling and ecotourism which are of great importance to Devon’s rural economy.

The project has provided several benefits to the local community. A 200m stretch of riverside path was improved to remove trip hazards and enable easier access for mobility vehicles. The fish pass itself has also allowed more fish to swim upstream, meaning not only a healthier ecosystem but also improving fish stocks on the river for local anglers.

One other benefit of the scheme is that new communication channels between the Abbey, local anglers and also watersports users have been created, so that the river can be enjoyed by a variety of local residents and affiliated tourists in a sympathetic way that also respects the Abbey's monastic community.

Calstock Flood Defence Improvements

It has helped to reduce the risk of flooding to the community of Calstock for the next 100 years, and delivered 11Ha of new inter-tidal habitat. The project is already improving water quality, biodiversity and flood protection, with local partnerships being developed to monitor and sustain future biodiversity potential.

This project was developed as part of a wider strategic plan for the Tamar Estuary to reinstate and reconnect river floodplains to not only tackle the issue of climate change but also the depreciation of critical habitat. In total, 75% of the construction carbon and 72% of the whole life cost of carbon was saved equating to a reduction of 7,350T.

The rare aquatic perennial plant, Triangular Club rush, was re-introduced and is flourishing well. The partnerships developed with the local community and stakeholders have enabled the successful delivery of the projects objectives and provided a local resource which will function for many years to come.

Clyst St Mary Flood Defence Improvements

Effort was made to achieve this in a non-intrusive manner that is sympathetic to the surrounding area and history of the site, delivering the best possible outcome to the local residents while keeping the project economically viable. Particular consideration was given to the standard of protection against flooding, the aesthetics of the timber capping, retaining trees where possible and highlighting the site's historical significance using the signage board and bespoke security fantail.

The Environment Agency worked closely with community volunteers and provided training for the deployment of the demountable flood defences allowing the local community to be active in protecting their village.

To achieve a practical flood defence with minimal disruption a sheet pile solution was used over a large proportion of the scheme that followed the undulating alignment of the original defences. The demountable stoplogs were designed to minimise visual impact on the designated Scheduled Monument Clyst St Mary bridge, requiring a bespoke system minimising the visible elements and using coloured concrete to blend in the concrete plinth with the surrounding asphalt.

Over the last section of wall a concrete spray coating was used on the sheet piles and a concrete capping beam incorporated to maintain the previous setting of the bridge.

Gravity Link Road

The scheme includes Somerset’s first green bridge to enhance local walking and equestrian routes. The landscaping includes permanent water bodies, c5000 trees which results in significant biodiversity net gain. Throughout construction no material was taken off site. From planning, through to construction, the project team have actively engaged with the public. During the first lockdown Gravity established a free meal delivery service which served almost 7,500 meals to the local community.

The opening of the road has removed through traffic from the village of Puriton, creating a safer village, improving air quality, and creating a more pleasant public environment. There is a subsequent commitment to provide additional pedestrian facilities, traffic calming, and a footpath link between the villages.

A detailed landscaping scheme will be implemented to maintain and improve the rural aesthetic of the area, whilst the inclusion of the four attenuation/infiltration basins provides green spaces and focal points for the natural environment. Additional permissive publics rights of way have been provided to link to existing routes, along with enhanced equestrian provision linking to existing bridleways.

M5 J11 Golden Valley N & S Bridges

The junction comprises a 5- bridge interchange between the M5 and the A40. The Scheme entailed the refurbishment of 1970s North & South Bridges which were suffering from concrete delamination and reinforcement corrosion.

The refurbishment of both structures, using innovative design and delivery and the use of a virtual reality tool to model existing services, has ensured that this regional and nationally important link supports future economic growth and safeguards current employment facilities and the local community.

Site environmental objectives were set to reclaim and reuse as much material as possible. Steel containment barriers were removed by a specialist supplier for reuse on other projects. Concrete, stone and macadam products were recycled and reused. Topsoil was stored on site in the areas where it had been stripped to preserve the seed banks and wildflower diversity.

Water from hydrodemolition was collected, de-silted and pH values neutralised. It could then be discharged locally and not dealt with as a waste product. All products were ethically sourced and, where possible, obtained locally to reduce transportation impact.

Oceans Canal Bridge, Over Stroudwater Navigation Canal

The towpath alongside the canal is a very popular tourist attraction for walkers and cyclists. The new bridge, with its integrated towpath, will once more allow boats to pass under the railway as part of the restoration of The Stroudwater Canal. The project took more than two years of planning, which included casting the new bridge sections on site, catching and relocating thousands of fish and draining a 230 metre section of the canal.

The team used a total of 7,000 tonnes of material for the foundations and backfilling around the new structure and 500 tonnes of track stone when reinstating the railway. The new bridge sections were lifted into place using a 1,200-tonne crane with the largest section weighing an impressive 64 tonnes.

To facilitate the successful construction of the new bridge, the railway and the embankment underneath it, including the towpath and culvert, had to be completely removed. This had to be done when trains were not running. Such an opportunity was found over Christmas 2021, when it was possible to close the railway for 7 days.

The closure was shared with other projects to ensure efficiency. To enable excavation, a section of the canal either side of the bridge had to be drained and water had to be pumped away from the work site. In advance of the railway closure the new structure was constructed with bespoke interlocking concrete units. Due to the excessive size and weight, the units were unable to be transported to site.

The pre-cast units were successfully cast on-site and demonstrates on-site assurance which allowed the units to be constructed with only 10mm tolerance.

Severn Ham Watermains Replacement

The designed solution and delivery of the project has been sympathetic to the local environment, removing unnecessary obstructive chambers, protecting endangered ground nesting birds within the area and improving the biodiversity of the reinstated grasslands. The walking community and local farmers have been accommodated throughout the works and the material used for temporary haul roads have been reused for local construction project and the damaged caused by historical bursts has been remediated.

The project required bird dissuasion to avoid ground nesting birds such as curlews nesting along the proposed route, this was supported by dog walking and using robotic/remote controlled machinery to cut grass areas ahead of works, reducing bird disturbance outside the working area and damage to a floodplain.

The engineering solution has, going forward, protected the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) from the damage caused by regular bursts and repairs. The strategic supply of water via this conduit has also been secured for generations to come. The project engaged regularly with local stakeholders including the landowners and Tewskesbury town council.

This including taking on board recommendations around reinstatement methodology, accommodating annual events such the hay harvest as well as adapting the design to remove the majority of obstructive concrete valve chambers site wide. The obstructive concrete chambers which effected farming techniques and walking routes were replaced with significantly smaller access chambers through the use of modern, streamlined valving arrangements and relocating larger valves outside the SSSI.

Sidmouth Flood Alleviation Scheme

The water is then channelled in a swale to a flood storage area, which doubles up as a performance space for the local community. The design will ensure that the performance space will remain unflooded in most rainfall events, so it can continue to be used by the community. 11 new trees have been planted alongside the sowing of wildflower seeds to improve the parkland.

Combined with a huge excavation for the storage crates as well as cross drains and drain connections in the road there are a significant number of components and work hidden below ground. To achieve the required volume of surface water storage capacity, the amphitheatre is retained on one side by a wall.

To ensure the storage area could function at capacity the wall had to be formed using sheet piles. The sheet piles are clad in a locally sourced limestone and is a mix of grey tones in keeping with the local character. A combination of carefully wrapped geotextiles and sand bags filled with soil were used to create the geometric stepped profile of the amphitheatre. A bespoke scaffold former was built in order that the batter of the profile was kept consistent at each tier moving around the amphitheatre.

Specialist grassfelt turf was used to ‘carpet’ the stepped profile of the amphitheatre. Grassfelt is a mature soil-less grass growing in a biodegradable felt especially designed to give great strength and flexibility. The biodegradable felt medium that the grass is growing in is made from recycled British textiles. The felt medium acts as a weed barrier and retains moisture which helps aid establishment.

The Dartmoor Line

This reopening was part of the government's commitment to invest in transport links to "level up" the country. Improving access to opportunities, ensuring our communities are better connected, local economies flourish, and more than half a century of isolation is undone.

The train service provides a vital link between Okehampton and Exeter but is also part of a wider brand-new integrated transport system which will link up Okehampton station with connecting buses to neighbouring towns and villages. The railway is now seen as part of the community, a piece of Okehampton that has been brought back to life and now part of the town's present and future.

The efforts of the whole team enabled the Dartmoor Line to be transformed from a mothballed former freight railway with occasional Summer Sunday services to a full seven days per week passenger operation in a mere nine months from confirmation of £40.5 million of Government funding.

It was more than £10m under budget and saved approximately 2 years off a normal programme. Over 400 people were involved in planning, managing, delivering and promoting the project. Throughout the project community engagement was critical to enable local needs to be accommodated. The work of the project team has helped to shine a positive light on rail travel, not just to local people, but also the wider travelling public - encouraging people to the railway and the local area for years to come.