Forth Road Bridge Shortlisted for Prestigious Industry Awards

The project was praised by the judges for “technical ingenuity and great team work”.

FETA Convener Phil Wheeler said: “I’m delighted that the vision and technical expertise of the engineers involved in this innovative project have been recognised in this way. If the first internal inspection had not been carried out, it is likely that cable deterioration would have had serious consequences for traffic loading on the bridge. That a solution has now been designed and implemented on schedule and without disruption to users of the bridge is a credit to everyone involved, and sets a benchmark for other major suspension bridges tackling similar problems.”

The BCI Awards are the UK construction sector’s leading awards, and the most rigorously judged. The Forth Road Bridge main cable project is one of six entries shortlisted in the “Civil Engineering Project £3m-£50m” category. In total, 46 projects were shortlisted for an award from over 180 UK and international entries.

The BCI Awards seek to recognise outstanding achievement in construction, taking into account architectural and engineering design, the construction process, delivery to time and budget, and client satisfaction. They were launched by New Civil Engineer magazine and Thomas Telford Ltd - both owned by the Institution of Civil Engineers - in 1998. 

The Forth Road Bridge main cable project is also one of 22 projects shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Better Public Building Award. This Award is sponsored by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, the Office of Government Commerce and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. It is unique in recognising both efficient procurement and excellent design.

UK Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “I congratulate all those involved in these outstanding projects. I am convinced that creative design, high-quality construction and efficient procurement make a real difference to quality of life and give us real value for money.”

The Forth Road Bridge entry encompassed the entire project from initial inspection and acoustic monitoring through to design and installation of the main cable dehumidification system, completed on schedule in October 2009.

The award winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on Wednesday 13 October.

The Forth Road Bridge has won a British Construction Industry Award once before, for the strengthening of the main towers in 1998.