Member Article

Huddersfield Narrow Canal named in Top 200 projects to shape the world

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has announced Huddersfield Narrow Canal as one of the top 200 influential people and projects, past and present, which illustrate how civil engineering has shaped the world and transformed people’s lives for the better.

To mark the ICE’s 200th anniversary, and to support Government’s Year of Engineering, the Institution is highlighting 200 inspirational and world-changing projects from around the world throughout 2018. Nominated by the ICE’s members and selected by an expert panel, the chosen projects illustrate the breadth and depth of civil engineering’s impact.

Huddersfield Narrow Canal which is joined on both sides by the Standedge Tunnel, and at 32km it is the highest in the UK – 197m above sea level as it passes through the Standedge Tunnel. With 74 locks, ten reservoirs and five aqueducts, it can take boats up to 21.3m long and 2.1m wide.

The Huddersfield Narrow Canal was a key part of the UK’s transport network – particularly in its early years of operation, before the rise of the railways. The cargoes the canal transported contributed to the economic wealth of the north of Britain.

The reopened canal has become a popular tourist attraction since restoration was completed in 2001, bringing income to the area and boosting the local economy.

Helen Braidwood, civil engineer for the Canal and River Trust, said: “Civil engineers are the ones that designed and oversaw the construction of the Huddersfield canal and it’s fantastic to see this being identified as one of the 200 People and Projects.

“The Standedge tunnel is 5km long and it is the longest in Britain. Civil engineering is a very important part of our history as shown by Standedge tunnel, by being a civil engineer you can be involved in something like this which can be around for years.”

Nathan Baker, Engineering Knowledge Director at ICE, added: “Our research has shown that the majority of both adults and young people don’t know what a civil engineer does and most can’t identify a single UK civil engineering project. We aim to change these perceptions with 200 People and Projects, explaining not just the importance of civil engineering but how it has directly transformed people’s lives.

“The chosen projects showcase how civil engineering paved the way to modern life and how it continues to tackle the problems of today, safeguarding the future for generations to come. With the world facing unprecedented challenges, such as climate change and the pressures from a rapidly growing population, there has never been a greater need for civil engineers and the vital work they do.

Huddersfield Narrow Canal joins the 200 projects which will be published throughout the year on the What Is Civil Engineering? pages of the ICE website. What is Civil Engineering? will not only host these projects but can also be used as a career guidance tool for those hoping to pursue a career in civil engineering. Once inspired by the projects being produced each month, there is comprehensive advice and guidance on how to become a civil engineer no matter what level of education someone has, or what stage in their career they have reached.

This platform has been designed to help promote the career of civil engineering after it was revealed that only 45% of adults know what the career entails and only 35% of young people could tell you what a civil engineer does.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Andrew Douglas .