The Institution of Civil Engineering (ICE) Awards are held regionally across the globe and highly respected by the industry showcasing the outstanding work done by civil engineers over the previous year.

The shortlist for the ICE Wales Cymru Project Awards 2022 has just been announced and includes the local projects of Swansea West Pier and Burry Port Harbour Improvement.

Swansea West Pier

The refurbishment of Swansea West Pier was completed at the end of 2021 – a £5.5m Design and Build project for Associated British Ports and located on the west bank of the mouth of the River Tawe to restore a 19th century timber retaining wall which had partially collapsed.  This had to be re-instated to stabilise the coastal sand dunes and protect vessel navigation in the River Tawe.

The project has been shortlisted for the George Gibby Award presented to the best example of outstanding design and construction of a project costing more than £5 million in Wales. This award honours the highly respected ICE member George H Gibby (1923-2010), who originally proposed the idea of an awards scheme to celebrate civil engineering.

The project was submitted by Mott Macdonald and involved key partners: ABP and John Graham Construction

Burry Port Harbour Improvement

The harbour at Burry Port had deteriorated to a poor disrepair from its halcyon days as a major coal exporter and the site of Amelia Earhart’s landing from her solo Atlantic flight in 1932.

During the improvement walls were strengthened and repaired using traditional heritage techniques using inter tidal working windows and specialised, tried and tested techniques which were robust and yet could “flex” as the walls continue to move, safeguarding the harbour for future generations.

Burry Port Harbour Improvement has been shortlisted for the Bill Ward Sustainability Award. This is presented to the project which best demonstrates the principles of sustainability, i.e. social, economic and environmental benefits of the project during delivery and upon completion.

The project was submitted by Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd and involved key Partners: Carmarthenshire County Council, Atkins and CADW

Keith Jones, Director, ICE Wales Cymru said:

“It is pleasing to see these examples of exceptional civil engineering projects shortlisted for our Awards. The Awards showcase how civil engineers, and their work can improve the lives of everyone, from local communities to the world at large”.

Winning Award Announcements and Presentations

These projects will now go through to the Wales final where, this year for the first time since the Covid pandemic, the winners will be revealed during a live awards ceremony at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff on 30 September.