New Wichelstowe access road shortlisted for engineering awards
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The project to build the new Wichelstowe Southern Access Road has been shortlisted for the ICE South West Civil Engineering Awards 2023 with the public encouraged to get involved by voting for their favourite scheme.
The Wichelstowe project saw the construction of a 2.3 km single carriageway road with 1.9 km of shared use path passes underneath the M4, providing a direct link to the motorway, alleviating the traffic impact on Swindon and reducing journey lengths and times.
Fourteen projects from across the South West were shortlisted by a panel of civil engineers to reflect outstanding engineering achievement, innovation, and ingenuity.
All the shortlisted schemes must show how they positively improve life for people in the region, whether through growth and economic development, climate resilience and carbon reduction or enriching communities and delivering social value.
The public is in control of choosing the People’s Choice Award winner through a free online vote at ice.org.uk/sw/awards[1] closing at 5pm on Tuesday 29 August 2023.
Miranda Housden, ICE South West Regional Director, said “The People’s Choice Award is a great opportunity to promote civil engineering to the public and celebrate the hard work that civil engineers engage in to benefit the region’s communities.
“I’d encourage everyone to find out more about the outstanding projects on the shortlist and cast a vote for the scheme they think has had the greatest positive impact for their area or the region as a whole.”
The result will be revealed at a gala ceremony in Bristol on Friday 10 November, hosted by TV presenter Rob Bell. The winners of Graduate and Apprentice of the Year will also be announced along with other project categories.
Sponsor Craig Small, Operations Director, Kier Infrastructure (Major Projects), said “These awards are a fantastic barometer for civil engineering in the South West, showing how the industry is making an important contribution to the region.
“They demonstrate the expertise and creativity of civil engineers in solving infrastructure problems and coming up with sustainable solutions to enrich people’s lives, reduce carbon and help address the challenges of our changing climate.”
The projects you can vote for are:
Wichelstowe Southern Access Road, Wiltshire
Unlocking the final section of a new development near Swindon, supporting a community and around 2,000 new jobs, the new road under the M4 was constructed while maintaining full motorway capacity at all stages.
A30 Chiverton to Carland Cross, Cornwall
One of the biggest construction projects Cornwall has ever seen will unblock the last section of single carriageway road between the M5 and Camborne, delivering significant infrastructure improvements and benefits to the region.
Blakeney West landslip remediation, Gloucestershire
This project overcame significant geological and construction challenges to repair a landslip and re-establish a key road into the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire for residents, tourists, and local businesses.
Colonnade to Coastguards Sea Wall, Dawlish, Devon
As well as improving flood protection and climate resilience for the region’s main railway and the town of Dawlish, the second phase of the sea wall has also created a new public space for the benefit of the local community.
Durley Chine Environmental Hub, Bournemouth, Dorset
An exemplar of sustainable construction using locally repurposed materials, this beachside education and exhibition space is dedicated to reducing environmental waste, eliminating plastic, and building coastline guardianship among local residents, schools, and visitors.
Forder Valley Link Road, Plymouth
The scheme includes one of the UK’s largest integral bridges over a steep valley with a 10% gradient to overcome, delivering a new strategic route for Plymouth to link communities, alleviate congestion and support economic growth.
Hinkley Marine Works – Placement of the HPC Heads in the Bristol Channel, Somerset
As part of the ongoing construction of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, this milestone project saw six cooling water heads placed on the seabed using some of the world’s biggest heavy lift vessels.
HPC Stockpile Management, Somerset
Hundreds of thousands of lorries journeys have been avoided by the ingenious management of soil waste from tunnelling works and other onsite materials, as part of this inventive “project within a project” at the Hinkley Point C construction site.
Newlyn Coastal Research & Development Project, Cornwall
In a pioneering twist on traditional coastal defences, this innovative scheme is testing out eco-armour on a breakwater with the ambition of enhancing marine biodiversity while also improving flood protection for a coastal community.
Pinhoe Station Interchange, Exeter
Making use of previously derelict land next to a railway station, the new interchange has unlocked a range of sustainable transport options for the local community, improving multi-modal connectivity between new housing developments and key employment sites.
Prior Park Landscape Garden, Dam & Pond Restoration Works, Bath
This sensitive historical site, home to a rare Palladian Bridge and 18th century dams and ponds, has undergone a crucial and exciting restoration to preserve it for future generations while improving accessibility for visitors.
Severn Estuary Resilience – Project Phase 1, Gloucestershire
A challenging project located high up on cliffs alongside the estuary, where teams on ropes worked around the clock for seven weeks to stabilise the cliff face, prevent future landslips, and safeguard a vital rail link.
West Cheltenham Transport Improvement Scheme, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire’s largest and most complex infrastructure project in over 15 years has enabled future housing and economic development, significantly reduced congestion, and delivered the first sections of a new cycle route.
Weymouth Station Gateway, Dorset
The reimagined forecourt at Weymouth’s main train station has not only created new options for sustainable travel but also provided a more welcoming and user-friendly space for locals and tourists alike.
References
- ^ ice.org.uk/sw/awards (74n5c4m7.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me)