Member Article

Tyne Tunnels win top civil engineering award

The £260 million New Tyne Crossing, completed in November 2011, has taken the top civil engineering gong at the British Construction Industry Awards in London, holding off competition from projects across the UK.

The judges said the project, which includes the construction of the second Tyne vehicle tunnel using immersed tube technology, was “a demanding, challenging and highly complex project which epitomises excellence in safety, quality, design, innovation and community relations.”

Paul Fenwick, Project Director for the Tyne & Wear Integrated Transport Authority which commissioned the project said: “This is a tremendous compliment to the dedication and skill of so many people who worked on the project and who delivered it two weeks ahead of schedule.

“Tunnel users and especially the local communities of Jarrow and East Howdon, who supported the project so well, should be proud to have national recognition for such a piece of civil engineering excellence on their doorstep.”

Nicolas Caille, Project Director for main Design and Build Contractor Bouygues Travaux Publics UK, said: “Bouygues is extremely proud to have delivered an award winning scheme for the people of the North East. For such a distinguished and high profile judging panel to rate the New Tyne Crossing project as the best in the country is incredible. This reflects the determined effort and cooperation between all parties to deliver a project we could be proud of. We hope that the rest of the North East share our pride.”

“The whole team is delighted to win this highly prestigious award,” said Vardy Jones, High-Point Rendel’s Director of Engineering. “It represents the culmination of tremendous teamwork, enterprise, ingenuity and workmanship on the project from the initial tender stage through to the many design innovations that enabled the project to be delivered on budget and ahead of schedule.”

Rachel Turnbull, CEO of TT2 Limited, the Project Concessionaire, said “We are absolutely delighted that the New Tyne Crossing has been recognised with this major award. We already know that the two Tyne Tunnels have transformed motoring in the North East. Customers tell us that the tunnels have changed their lives. To receive such high level recognition for the engineering aspects of the tunnels is absolutely fantastic, and a credit to all involved.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by New Tyne Crossing .