The replacement and extension of the East London Line has been awarded the top trophy at the ICE London Civil Engineering Awards 2011. Twelve infrastructure and building projects were shortlisted for the Institution of Civil Engineers’ (ICE) annual awards, which are sponsored by Mott MacDonald and Ramboll.
A total of five projects received honours including Barclays Cycle Hire, the London 2012 Velodrome, the Thames Barrier and the National Tennis Centre’s new Sports Canopy. In addition to winning the overall award, the East London Line also received the Community Award.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said:
“The extension of the East London Line means Londoners can now whizz from one side of the city to the other and Barclays Cycle hire has been a massive success with nearly three million journeys taking place on the blue bikes. I am thrilled these major transport schemes have been embraced by Londoners, to be honoured with a civil engineering award on top of that really is the icing on the cake.”
Miranda Housden, Director of ICE London, said:
“All of the winning projects benefit Londoners and visitors to London, showcasing the vital contribution that engineers make to the life of the city. I congratulate all involved.”
Judgements on engineering excellence were based on criteria such as innovation, creativity, sustainability, health and safety and social value. Previous winners include the London 2012 Olympic Park, Heathrow Terminal 5A, Hampton Water Treatment Works and Wembley Stadium.
The East London Line received the Greatest Contribution to London Award and the Community Award:
Location: Between Dalston and New Cross Gate
Contractor: Balfour Beatty Carillion Joint Venture
Designer: URS-Scott Wilson & Tony Gee & Partners
Client Independent Technical Advisor: Mott MacDonald
Partners: London Overground, TfL London Rail
The East London Line project, constructed through 10km of congested urban landscape between Dalston and New Cross Gate down to West Croydon, involved laying innovative new tracks, installing modern signalling and telecoms equipment whilst repairing and making use of existing Victorian walls, viaducts and tunnels, including the historic Brunel Tunnels and Kingsland Viaduct. Four new stations, a concrete viaduct and a steel bridge near Liverpool Street were also built.
Thomas Lane, from the judging panel, said:
“Over on the east side of town, a tired forgotten tube line has been transformed into a shiny new service. It is a perfect example of how to reuse old bits of infrastructure to create something so much better and useful than what went before. But this line extends far beyond its nuts and bolts as it has opened up the east side of town.
“Half a million people now use it every day with numbers expected to rise further, and those benefits make the new line fully deserving of the community award. The line cuts a swathe through some of the most deprived areas of the capital so will bring enormous regeneration benefits in the long term too. This powerful new tool in the regeneration of east London toolbox is why it won the greatest contribution to London award too.”
