Victoria Bridge restoration in line for awards

Herefordshire Council’s restoration work on Hereford’s historic Victoria Bridge has received national recognition and is now in line for four further honours.

The project has just been awarded a silver medal as part of the Considerate Constructors Award Scheme. To gain such an award, schemes are judged on the way they impact on the general public and environment as well as the facilities provided for people working on the site.

Michael Hainge, director of the environment, said: “Only schemes of the very highest quality receive these awards so we are delighted this project has received such recognition.”

The Victoria Bridge restoration project has now been entered for four further awards.

One of these is for the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) awards which recognise construction projects that demonstrate excellence in concept, planning, design and construction. The winner of this award will be announced on May 17.

A submission has also been made to CEEQUAL, a civil engineering environmental quality assessment and award scheme. To gain an award here projects must be judged as meeting a national standard for minimising the impact construction works have on the environment. Award winners will be announced in June.

A submission has also been made to the British Construction Industry (BCI) for an award which recognises client satisfaction, value for money, quality of design and construction. Winners will be announced in October.

Finally, the project has been entered for a Historic Bridge and Infrastructure Award, an award aimed at encouraging, recognising and celebrating excellence and innovation in aspects of historic civil engineering conservation. To gain such an award the project must demonstrate recognition and appreciation of the original design concept; conservation of the original fabric and structural form and excellence in workmanship.
 
Michael Hainge, director for the environment, said: “We are rightly proud of the restoration work carried out on the bridge and are pleased to have been nominated for these awards. The completed project is not only extremely popular with the county’s residents but is also seen as an example of good practice among our professional colleagues working in civil engineering.”