Scottish bridge wins ICE People’s Choice Award 2022

The Stockingfield Bridge project has won the 2022 ICE People’s Choice Award.

The annual award recognises civil engineering projects that have made a positive impact on their local communities.

The £14m two-way spanning, cable-stayed pedestrian and cycling bridge at Stockingfield project took 21 months to complete.

It connects communities on either side of the Forth & Clyde Canal for the first time since 1790.

Wendy Blundell, ICE director of regions, said: "Civil engineers are often the unsung heroes behind schemes that have a positive impact on local communities and Stockingfield Bridge is certainly one of those – linking communities again after more than 200 years."

Linking local communities for the first time since the 18th century

Stockingfield Bridge is not only a impressive-looking and technically complex structure, it embodies the very idea of what a bridge is for: linking the communities of Maryhill, Gilschochill and Ruchill for the first time since the 18th century.

It is a bridge connects Glasgow to Edinburgh in the east via Falkirk, and Loch Lomond and Bowling Harbour in the west.

It’s also the ‘missing link’ in the National Cycle Network, offering a traffic-free route between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Transport Scotland, Sustrans, and Glasgow City Council funded the project. The rest of the team behind the winning project includes Scottish Canals, Balfour Beatty, Scape, SH Structures, Jacobs, and Fairhurst.

As well as achieving the goal of connecting communities, Richard Millar, Scottish Canals chief operating officer, said that the project worked closely with the local community to address their concerns.

"We have addressed issues that concerned local people incorporating ideas around lighting, accessibility, and layout," Millar said.

"We have introduced new, fully accessible, green spaces for people to explore and enjoy, knowing the health benefits safe outdoor places can bring, and we have galvanised a network of community groups and volunteers who are creating eight major public art installations for visitors now and, in the future, to enjoy.”

Karen McGregor, Sustrans Scotland director, added: "Stockingfield Bridge really demonstrates the transformative impact of investing in active travel and the value of working with our communities to make these projects a reality."

The People’s Choice Award 2022 shortlist

The other five projects that were up for this year’s award were:

• Lekki Deep Sea Port Project, Nigeria (ICE Africa)
• Lincoln Flood Defences, Lincoln (ICE East Midlands)
• Wolsingham Sewage Treatment Works (STW) Growth, County Durham (ICE North East)
• Seacombe Ferry Terminal Refurbishment, Wallasey, Wirral Peninsula (ICE North West)
• Marches Moses BogLIFE Project, Shropshire and Wales (ICE West Midlands)