Eight projects were recognised at the 2024 Scottish Civil Engineering Awards.
A project to improve the harbour area and main street for Ullapool, in the north-west Highlands of Scotland, has won Overall Best Project at the Scottish Civil Engineering Awards.
Organised by ICE Scotland and CECA Scotland, the awards showcase the success of Scottish civil engineering and celebrate how it shapes and adds value to everyday life.
This development was needed to improve the A893 which was a narrow main street (Shore Street) serving as the main road for ferry access from Ullapool to Stornoway in the Western Isles.
For many years the A893 had been cramped for ferry traffic, as well as local businesses and pedestrians who enjoyed the village for commerce and recreation.
Activities included widening of Shore Street with a broadened southern promenade, a new Shore Quay wall with pontoons, and a dredged inner harbour.
Overcoming challenges
John Macleod, site agent at RJ McLeod – the lead company on the project – said the team worked “incredibly hard” to overcome the challenges of building a new road and marine facility next to:
- An operational harbour;
- A live busy trunk road containing multiple utilities; and
- A busy shore front close to businesses and residents.
“The finished works have received widespread praise from locals and visitors alike, and the local community already see the works as their own, a sure sign of a successful community project,” Macleod said.
Kevin Peach, Ullapool Harbour Trust harbourmaster, said they were “delighted” to accept the award on behalf of their community.
“[A community] who immediately came on board with the vision and formed a volunteer steering group that was instrumental in the overall design and material choice,” he said.
Celebration of engineering innovation
Commenting on the awards, ICE Scotland regional director, Ben Westland, said: “I wish to thank the 20 excellent teams who entered projects this year and would like to congratulate all the winning projects.
“All have made an outstanding contribution to Scotland – not just to our economy, but to our people, our environment and to our community well-being."
Grahame Barn, chief executive of CECA Scotland, commented: "This is a celebration of civil engineering innovation and success here in Scotland.
“The Scottish Civil Engineering Awards is a unique opportunity to recognise the contribution that civil engineers make to shaping our everyday lives and the world around us.”
The winning projects
- Best Project Under £2M – St Andrews Landslip Remediation
- Morrison Construction, Scottish Water, Geo-Rope, Allen Gordon LLP
- Resilience Award – Caol and Lochyside Flood Protection Scheme
- RJ McLeod, Highland Council, JBA Consulting, Stantec
- Refurbishment Award – Camps Viaduct Underbridge Refurbishment
- Story Contracting, Network Rail, MHB Consultants
- Innovation Award – Crinan Canal Lock Gate 15 Replacement
- Mackenzie Construction, Scottish Canals, MHB Consultants
- Geotechnical Award – Blindwells
- I & H Brown Ltd, Hargreaves Services, Gleeds, Waterman Group, Currie & Brown, EPC Associates Ltd
- Marine Award – Lochmaddy Pier Upgrade
- George Leslie, Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar, Wallace Stone LLP, Caledonian Maritime Assets
- Best Infrastructure Project – A939 Gairnshiel Jubilee Bridge
- Wills Bros Group, Aberdeenshire Council, Arcadis, Moxon Architects Ltd
- Best Overall Project 2024 – Ullapool Shore Street and Inner Harbour Improvements
- RJ McLeod, Ullapool Harbour Trust, Transport Scotland, Wallace Stone LLP, Inland and Coastal Marina Systems Ltd
