Bridge restoration wins national award
Released: 3 January 2008
A project carried out by Wolverhampton City Council and partners to restore a 125-year-old bridge at a premier park has been applauded as a national example of excellent conservation work.
The scheme to strengthen and restore West Park bridge, undertaken by the city council alongside consulting engineers Scott Wilson and contractor Carillion, has been recognised with a national award from the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).
The restoration of the grade II listed structure was one of four projects chosen from 25 entries across the country for the Historic Bridges and Infrastructure Awards.
Councillor Peter Bilson, Wolverhampton City Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise, said: “I’m delighted that the bridge restoration has won an award. West Park has already witnessed significant restoration of its Victorian heritage, including its magnificent conservatory and bandstand.
“By continuing to apply the highest standards we can ensure that West Park remains a symbol of pride for the city, and is enjoyed by many generations to come.”
Judges complimented the West Park Bridge project, which was undertaken in 2006, for “considerable attention to detail, resulting in a very sympathetic and authentic restoration”.
The cast iron 10-metre long bridge spanning an area of the boating lake was designed by the borough surveyor, Mr G Eastlake Thoms, and built by J Bradney & Co of Wolverhampton as part of the creation of West Park which opened on June 6, 1881.
The project to bring the bridge back to its former glory followed on from a wider restoration scheme which has seen the park benefit from millions of pounds worth of investment in recent years.
West Park has been described as “one of England’s finest Victorian parks” in the Good Parks Guide and “a jewel in the middle of the city of Wolverhampton” by national tourism agency, Visit Britain.
The ICE Historic Bridges and Infrastructure Awards were presented at a ceremony in London towards the end of last year. Chris Jones, from the council’s Adults and Community section and James Sturgeon, from Regeneration and Environment, collected the award on behalf of the local authority along with representatives from Scott Wilson and Carillion.
The awards scheme, which has been running for 10 years, promotes and celebrates excellence and innovation in the conservation of transport-related structures which are more than 30 years old, including bridges, canal aqueducts and locks and tunnels.
Other projects to receive awards were the High Level Bridge, Newcastle; Shaken Bridge Reconstruction, North Yorkshire and Weetwood Bridge Stabilisation, Northumberland.
Issued by the press office.