2013 Saltire Society Civil Engineering Award Winner
The M80 Stepps to Haggs DBFO
The M80 Stepps to Haggs DBFO is this year's Saltire Society Civil Engineering Award winner.
Maureen Watt msp Convener of the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee and Heather Reid, Meteorologist and Education Consultant presented the Award to representatives of the project at a ceremony in the National Museum of Scotland on the 31st October.
The M80 Stepps to Haggs project – which has dramatically reduced traffic congestion and journey times for drivers between Glasgow and Stirling – has beaten off stiff competition to pick up this year’s Saltire Society Civil Engineering Award.
The award recognises, the importance of civil engineering and the role it plays in society providing vital infrastructure including roads, bridges, stations, stadia and water systems. The M80 Stepps to Haggs project completes the 18km non-motorway section of one of Scotland’s busiest roads, providing the ‘missing link’ in a key strategic route linking Glasgow, Stirling and the North East. The judges commended the ‘ingenuity and enterprise’ of the project team in overcoming challenges involving a series of complex structures, highway construction and geotechnical issues.
“The M80 project incorporated many technical engineering elements and was particularly impressive as it was all carried out while managing a live traffic flow of up to 73,000 vehicles per day,” said Gordon Pomphrey, Convener of the Awards Panel. “The result is a solution to chronic traffic congestion, significantly reduced travelling times and improved road safety on this heavily used commuter corridor – as well as environmental benefits for the surrounding community.”
Minister for Transport, Keith Brown said:
“These awards create a wonderful opportunity to recognise excellence in civil engineering with a particular emphasis on innovation. Clients, designers and contractors can showcase innovative solutions to some of the most interesting and challenging work that the industry has to offer, and they establish Scotland as a world leader in delivering these solutions. I am delighted that the M80 Stepps to Haggs has been selected for this year’s Saltire Award for Civil Engineering scheme against tough competition from a number of other excellent projects across Scotland. The M80 project demonstrates a creative and resourceful approach to delivering a technically complex project in challenging circumstances whilst ensuring that one of Scotland’s strategic transport corridors operated effectively, maintaining essential connections for both businesses and local communities. Road users now benefit from improved road safety, better connectivity and reduced journey times.”
In securing the accolade, the M80 joins previous winners, such as the Kessock Bridge at Inverness, the Falkirk Wheel and the Clyde Arc in Glasgow.
“The Saltire Society is delighted to recognise such a major project that affects the daily lives of so many people. The expertise and imagination required of such a project often remains unseen for those who ultimately benefit, but these are the very qualities that our awards strive to celebrate.” said Jim Tough, Executive Director of the Saltire Society.
Ten schemes from across Scotland were nominated for the prestigious award, with four others being selected for commendation: The Tay Road Bridge pier collision protection project in Dundee, Glasgow’s East End Regeneration route and both the Waverley Steps renovation and Advocates close and Motel One schemes in Edinburgh.
COMMENDATIONS
Tay Road Bridge Pier Collision Protection
The project demonstrates an exceptionally high level of civil engineering expertise in a demanding environment to provide a system that will protect one of Scotland’s most important bridges against ship collision.
Waverly Steps Redevelopment
The project demonstrated a high level of initiative and original thinking to develop the design and overcome challenging conditions to execute the construction in an extremely restricted site in a busy urban environment.
East End Regeneration Route Phase 2
The project demonstrates the value to the wider community of investment in infrastructure through environmental improvement and as a catalyst for further economic development.
Advocates Close & Motel One
The project demonstrated considerable initiative to develop the design and overcome challenging and extremely restricted construction conditions, the resulting scheme bringing a disused quarter of Edinburgh back into use.