THE hard work of a group of dedicated engineers, contractors and volunteers who helped restore a historical viaduct in our area has been recognised.  

Over the last few months, a committed team have been busy repairing and re-waterproofing the Stanway Viaduct, just north of Toddington station, on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway line and it reopened to passengers on Good Friday. 

This restoration project has now been shortlisted for the Historic Bridge Project of the Year Award at the New Civil Engineer Bridges Awards 2024. 

The prestigious awards ceremony will take place at the Leonardo Royal Hotel London St Pauls on Thursday, July 18. 

Dr Graham Plant, GWSR's civil engineering director, said: “I am delighted that we have been shortlisted for this award for a project that had to cope with a major unexpected change during its implementation and was successfully completed by a collaborative effort.

“I would like to take this opportunity of thanking all railway staff and volunteers, and our suppliers, who were engaged in this endeavour especially having to cope with the unexpected substantial additional work to stabilise the parapets. 

"The restored viaduct and track look superb, and the works allowed us to reduce the weight on the viaduct structure by around 90 tonnes which was an added bonus.”