Belgrave Road project wins national award
The scheme to stabilise, re-build and re-open Belgrave Road in Ventnor has won a national award.
The project, completed late last year, has been named Best UK Geotechnical Project will a value of between £1m and £3m at the 2023 Ground Engineering Awards.
The annual ceremony this year held at JW Grosvenor House Hotel, London, brought together the leaders in the industry to celebrate achievements in terms of projects, people and business between January 2022 and January 2023.
The Belgrave Road scheme was delivered for the Isle of Wight Council by Island Roads alongside local companies Stoneham Construction and Corefix alongside global engineering consultancy Atkins.
Declaring the project a winner, judges said: “We were impressed with the innovative approach to overcome a real-time geotechnical challenge. Close collaboration between the project team has established a local skill base for future, similar ground engineering applications.”
Jason Boulter, CEng MICE, Senior Project Manager within Island Roads’ structures team, said: “The most pleasing thing about winning the award was that it highlighted the ability of companies on the Isle of Wight to collaborate successfully to deliver a major and complex scheme.
“Together, with the support of designers Atkins, the Belgrave Road project has showcased the engineering know-how that exists here to major players in the national engineering industry.”
Jane Rendall of Atkins said: “I’ve not often worked on a scheme before where teams from multiple companies worked so seamlessly together- acting as one team to achieve a common goal. The successful design and construction works with a subsequent prestigious award is a real testament to our collaboration and dedication.”
Kieron Blamey of Corefix said: “It was great to showcase our skills and expertise on a project of this scale – especially so given it was on our home turf. We are thrilled to be a part of the winning team.”
Adam Burton of Stoneham Construction Ltd said: “The Belgrave Road scheme was a technically challenging project delivered on time and within budget. We would like to place particular recognition for Site Manager, Dave Jones, who’s outstanding contribution was so key to the successful completion of the project.”
Cllr Phil Jordan, IW Council cabinet member for transport and infrastructure, said: “I’m delighted that local expertise was so prominent in solving such a complex local issue. For the project to receive recognition from the national industry reflects so well on all those involved and also on the Isle of Wight itself.”
The Belgrave Road scheme followed the partial collapse of a retaining wall in 2020. The repair project was complicated by the fact that the site continued to experience ground movement for a significant period and also because the solution needed to combine the latest engineering technology with the need to preserve the local Victorian character.
