Triple award success for Ferry Bridge refurbishment

23 May 2017

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The restoration of a historic footbridge across the River Trent has claimed a third prestigious engineering award for Amey and Staffordshire County Council.

Ferry Bridge in Burton is a historic, Grade II-listed suspension bridge that spans the River Trent. It was opened in 1889 and was paid for by local brewing magnate Michael Arthur Bass. This cherished local landmark was badly in need of attention, especially after a 2011 structural assessment identified the need for strengthening and refurbishment.

Amey worked closely with Staffordshire County Council on a programme of works that included the installation of an internal strengthening frame, a new timber deck, parapet strengthening, cleaning and repainting. The bridge’s 20 ornamental rosettes were also replaced, while the original coats of arms were reproduced and installed following fundraising by local group the Ferry Bridge Working Group.

On 20 April, the project received a Merit Award in the Highways Partnership category at the Institute of Highway Engineers Mercia Branch Awards. There was also an award for one of Amey’s engineers, Will Painter, who won Best Eng Tech Submission of the year award.

Following on from this, on 17 May the project won a Heritage Award at the Institution of Civil Engineers West Midlands Civil Engineering Awards, where judges commended Ferry Bridge for its ‘excellent research work which resulted in rejuvenating a ‘lost’ heritage for the local community and preserving it for the future’.

Staffordshire County Council and Amey also won an additional Sustainability Award for work to build Stafford western access route, a project that minimised the adverse impact on protected species and that judges said was a ‘great example of a scheme that not only considered environmental effects but had in essence been sustainability-led’.

These awards follow a previous award win in December 2016, when the Ferry Bridge refurbishment was named Midlands Counties Winner in the Footbridge category of the Institution of Structural Engineers Awards.

Amey Account Director Steve Jones said: “We are very proud of the success of the Ferry Bridge refurbishment project, which saw Amey working closely with Staffordshire County Council. We maintain 1,200 bridges in total on behalf of the council but this one is a much-loved local landmark. It was great to undertake this work and be recognised with these three awards.”

Staffordshire County Council’s highways leader Mark Deaville said: “We were all incredibly pleased to see the re-opening of the Ferry bridge last October following its £1.5m restoration. It’s an iconic local landmark, much loved by local people and we made the significant investment to ensure that it is protected for future generations to use and enjoy. 

“This wasn’t a normal repair project as the bridge is listed. Its planning also involved a wide range of people, from community groups to our own officers and Amey so we’re pleased to see it recognised through these awards.”

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