Herring Bridge, built by BAM Farrans JV for Norfolk County Council, has been awarded Road Bridge of the Year at the inaugural NCE Bridges Awards.

Herring Bridge, Great Yarmouth's Third River Crossing, is a major national infrastructure project aimed at reducing traffic congestion, enhancing journey reliability and supporting investment and regeneration in the town and surrounding borough. The Road Bridge Project of the Year award sought to recognise excellence in new build or major road refurbishment project in the UK, in the last year.

Constructed by BAM Farrans JV, the project involved designing and building a double bascule bridge of an unusual size and scale for the UK. The success of this complex engineering endeavour was achieved through the partnership between Norfolk County Council, BFJV and designers, who brought together top problem solvers. The project was completed with a high degree of community integration and a lasting social value legacy.

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The gala award ceremony was held on 18 July 2024 at the Leonardo Royal Hotel London St Paul's with over 400 industry figures in attendance. More than 175 awards submissions were considered by a panel of 40 expert judges.

Speaking about Herring Bridge the event compere said: "The judges found this project to be a very impressive and interesting scheme. The project demonstrated an impressive scheme under challenging conditions, meeting time and budget targets. It featured a well-structured approach with clear coverage of the judging criteria and significant attention to minimizing carbon impacts. Enhancing community wellbeing and resilience, while blending seamlessly with the landscape and incorporating innovative construction methods was commendable. Keep it up!"

Tony Mulholland, Project Director for BAM Farrans JV, said: "This award is a fantastic recognition of the work and professionalism of our project team during a challenging project. We began construction during the Covid pandemic and this required a new approach with greater flexibility and resilience. We have been pleased to see the positive impact that Herring Bridge has had for the town of Great Yarmouth since opening in February."

New Civil Engineer editor Gavin Pearson said: "Bridges have epitomised civil engineering for centuries and these awards recognise the best of the best as the industry continues to enhance its social, environmental and economic impact. From incredible work in maintaining historic bridges, right through to innovative new bridge concepts, our judges were impressed with the remarkable calibre and range of entries across the award categories, with the winners providing a terrific benchmark of best practice."