Three Gloucestershire engineering projects celebrated in regional …

Three very different civil engineering projects in Gloucestershire have been shortlisted for the ICE South West Civil Engineering Awards 2023, with the public encouraged to get involved by voting for their favourite scheme.

Blakeney West landslip remediation is one of the smallest schemes to be selected this year. The project overcame significant geological and construction challenges to repair a landslip and re-establish New Road at Nibley - a key route into the Forest of Dean for residents, tourists, and local businesses.

The remediated road provides access into the centre of the historic forest, including the popular Wrenchford picnic area and the Mallards Pike lakes.

The Severn Estuary Resilience Programme Phase 1 has also been recognised. The multi-million-pound scheme for Network Rail saw teams working on ropes around the clock for seven weeks to stabilise the cliff face, prevent future landslips and safeguard an important rail link for Gloucester and Lydney.

Gloucestershire's largest and most complex infrastructure project in over 15 years features in the shortlist. The West Cheltenham Transport Improvement Scheme involved widening the A40 eastbound, changes to the M5 J11 slip road, remodelling of a major roundabout, including significant associated carriageway, structures, drainage and walking and cycling improvements.

The multi-phased scheme for Gloucestershire County Council, with funding from GFirst LEP, by Atkins has reduced the levels of congestion locally and provided economic benefit for key regional critical businesses, such as GCHQ.

In total, 14 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.

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."

Craig Small, operations director of sponsor 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 public is in control of choosing the People's Choice Award winner through a free online vote, closing on August 29.

The result will be revealed at a gala ceremony in Bristol on November 10.