KEYNSHAM Memorial Park’s bridge and the Saltford Water Recycling Centre access road have been shortlisted for an award – and the public has the chance to choose the winner.
The schemes are among 12 selected for the online poll in the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) South West People’s Choice Award 2024. Voting has already opened and runs until Friday August 30.
The judges were impressed with the innovative design of the footbridge at Keynsham Memorial Park, which uses a new deck structure but retains the existing bridge abutments to save carbon and cost. The updated bridge has restored a popular walking route for local residents.
The £8.9m new access road to the Saltford Water Recycling Centre, undertaken by Wessex Water and AtkinsRéalis, includes a new bridge over the River Avon and three new ponds for wildlife.
The project aims to reduce traffic movements and congestion in Saltford village and provide improved access to the water recycling facility to enable its expansion.
The ICE South West People’s Choice Award, sponsored by AECOM, provides an opportunity for the public to learn about and vote for their favourite civil engineering projects in the region through a free online poll.
Last year, Bath’s Prior Park Landscape Garden received the most public votes in the competition for a project to restore its historic dam and ponds.
Miranda Housden, ICE South West regional director, said: “The ICE South West People’s Choice Award is a fantastic way to showcase civil engineering to the public and recognise the civil engineers who work to improve our communities.
“I encourage everyone to learn about the impressive projects on the shortlist and vote for the one they believe has made the most significant positive impact on the local area or the region as a whole.”
The winning project will be revealed at the ICE South West Civil Engineering Awards 2024, in association with Kier BAM, during a ceremony in Bristol on Thursday October 24, hosted by broadcaster Rob Bell.
People can vote at https://ice.org.uk/sw/awards
Pictured top, the £300,000 bridge at Keynsham Memorial Park was designed by Curtins for Bath & North East Somerset Council
Below, the access road scheme for Saltford Water Recycling Centre included the creation of new wildlife habitat resulting in 55% biodiversity net gain
