News
M4 Junction 11 Wins Top Honour at
ICE Thames Valley Engineering Excellence Awards 2011
7th July 2011
The M4 Junction 11 and Mereoak Improvement Scheme, designed and project managed by Peter Brett Associates LLP, has been named Overall Winner at the ICE Thames Valley Engineering Excellence Awards 2011, the highest honour for engineering projects in the local area.
One of seven schemes recognised by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), the project was also the recipient of the Large Projects Award.
John Laverty, Director of ICE South East England, said:
“All of the winning projects highlight the important contribution that engineers make to our way of life – from improving rail and road links to providing environmentally sustainable and inspiring community venues.
“Infrastructure and building projects such as these support quality of life in the Thames Valley and are vital for economic recovery and regeneration. I congratulate all the project teams on their success.”
M4 Junction 11 and Mereoak Improvement Scheme
Cost: £65 million
Location: Reading
Completed: August 2010
Client: Reading Borough Council
Project manager/designer: Peter Brett Associates LLP
Partners: Wokingham Borough Council, Highways Agency, Gardiner and Theobold, Glide Consulting, Capita Lovejoy, Laing O’Rourke Infrastructure, AECOM
Since its opening in the summer of 2010, this £65 million project has achieved a real difference to a major road junction and Reading’s main traffic gateway – M4 Junction 11. Rush hour delays have been virtually eliminated through a major reconstruction of the junction and the associated road network. Works included a separate bus way, cycle and pedestrian access across the junction and the introduction of trees and wetlands. The local community was also engaged, with local school children invited to bury a time capsule on the site. The construction of two new bridges over the M4 was carried out without any significant delays to the 85,000 vehicles passing underneath per day.
Howard Larkin, chair of the judging panel, said:
“The improvements made to M4 Junction 11 have transformed this vital road network. The visually striking pedestrian bridges make a positive statement at the gateway to Reading and we commend the use of intelligent traffic management which minimised delays during works.”
All entries were required to have been substantially completed in the last year. Judgements were based on criteria such as creativity and innovation, sustainability and environmental sensitivity and benefits to the client and wider public.
Congratulations to all!