Introduced in 2020 by Bridge design & engineering magazine, the awards celebrate the sheer ingenuity, project management and cooperative skills of the people behind the design, construction and maintenance of pedestrian, highway and rail bridges in the UK, with an International category recognising UK-based contributions to global projects.

This year’s edition introduced two new awards: the Bridges Sustainability Award and the Bridges Ethos Award. 

The judging panel, chaired by Bd&e editor José María Sánchez de Muniáin, consisted of Ian Firth, consulting structural engineer at Ian Firth Structural Engineering, Santosh Singh, structures group manager and head of specialism at National Highways, Ezra Groskin, director at Moxon Architects, Trish Johnson, bridge master at the Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust, Sue Threader, bridge clerk/CEO of the Rochester Bridge Trust, and Andy Cross, programme manager at Network Rail for Wales & Borders.

The Bridges Award for New Life

Recognising outstanding refurbishment, rehabilitation, reconstruction or repurposing projects, this year's winner was the Menai Suspension Bridge Permanent Replacement Hangers project.

The 176m-long Menai Suspension Bridge links the island of Anglesey to the Welsh mainland. Designed by Thomas Telford and completed in 1826, the Grade I listed structure is the world’s second-oldest suspension bridge still carrying vehicles.

A total of 168 defective hangers were replaced after an inspection revealed a brittleness issue that compromised their structural integrity. The assessment also concluded that the failure of one hanger would have likely caused the others to fail as well. The replacement prototype solution was tested to ensure its efficiency and reliability. Works were strategically planned to minimise disruption to the public by maintaining traffic flow and avoiding prolonged bridge closures. The replacement took place between September 2023 and October 2024.

The judges described the scheme as: "True engineering in an emergency, employing highly novel solutions to difficult challenges, thereby protecting and improving the functionality of an iconic bridge without closing it. Ensuring the bridge is safe and installing hangers in a trafficked environment is a huge achievement and was managed in an exemplary fashion."

Commissioning authority: UK Highways A55

Lead designer: Cowi

Main contractor: Spencer Bridge Engineering

The judges also conferred two highly commended awards. The first of these was for the Smardale Gill Viaduct Restoration located in Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria. 

Built in 1861 from local sandstone, the Grade II* listed viaduct spans 170m with 14 arches of 9.1m. Once a railway crossing 27m above the narrow valley of Scandal Beck, it now serves as a footpath to the nearby national park. The once-abandoned structure was preserved by the efforts of the Northern Viaduct Trust volunteer group.

Through private donations and securing public funding, the volunteers enabled the carrying out of essential repairs, including stonework repairs of the piers and arches, improved drainage, concrete repairs, deck waterproofing, and upgraded parapets with stainless-steel mesh. The works concluded in winter 2024.

The judges noted: "The project possessed great community and stakeholder engagement, having been saved from demolition by volunteers. The completed works greatly enhance the longevity of the structure and provide access to the local national park."

Commissioning authority: Northern Viaduct Trust

Structural engineer: Ramboll UK

Lead designer: Ramboll UK

Main contractor: Story Contracting

Associated key firms: Geo-Structural Ltd (rope access and masonry repairs), Waterseal Ltd (waterproofing and surfacing works), Balmore Ltd (rope access inspectors)

Also highly commended was the Cox's Walk Footbridge Refurbishment in London.

Built in 1865, the footbridge originally crossed a now-disused railway to Nunhead. Supported by masonry abutments and piers, it featured a timber frame and steel lattice parapets.

Closed in 2020 due to severe deterioration, the bridge was refurbished with a new 26.8m by 3m deck of precast concrete slabs on steel beams. To protect surrounding trees, screw piles were used, and the timber frame was replaced with durable fibre-reinforced polymer to reduce future maintenance needs. The footbridge reopened in November 2024.

The judges described the project as: "A sensitive reconstruction of an important historic timber bridge, demonstrating clever use of new systems and materials which have preserved the historic bridge and enhanced its long-term future. This was an ecologically sensitive site, and a large amount of consideration was taken to preserve the natural environment."

Commissioning authority: London Borough of Southwark

Lead designer: Waterman Infrastructure & Environment

Main contractor: FM Conway

Associated key firms: Beaver Bridges (FRP designer and supplier)

The Bridges Design and Construction Award

This award recognises outstanding engineering skill, aesthetics, innovation, and environmental considerations in design and construction. The winner for projects valued below £10 million is the Bracklinn Falls Footbridge in Callander, Scotland. 

The 21.7m by 2m footbridge is made of perforated weathering steel, with outward-leaning longitudinal beams serving as parapets and a GFRP deck. It consists of folded Z-profile panels bolted together with intermittent U-frames.

Assembled using a midi-excavator, each section was built on one side of the falls and pushed across on temporary railings. This is the third bridge at the site, replacing a long-standing steel bridge lost to flooding in 2004 and a timber replacement removed in 2021 due to deterioration. The footbridge opened in late March 2023.

The judges praised the project as: "A well-engineered and elegant solution, which rose to the challenge of building at a remote location. Success came from the close integration of design, fabrication, and erection considerations from the outset."

Commissioning authority: Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority

Structural engineer: Cake Engineering

Main contractor: Cake Industries

Associated key firms: BEAM Architects (architecture), BigCat Contracts (installation subcontractor), Aecom (client’s technical advisor), Format Structural Engineers (cat III checker)

The winner for projects valued above £10 million is the Gull Wing Bridge that spans Lake Lothing in Lowestoft, Suffolk.

(Suffolk County Council)

The crossing is believed to be the world’s largest rolling bascule bridge lifted by hydraulic cylinders. Built to ease congestion and boost economic growth, the 342m by 22m structure comprises eight spans, supported by two in-water piers, with a 120-year service life. When opened, it reaches a height of 62m.

The 39.5m long bascule span, weighing about 750t, provides a 12m clearance above the highest tide, with the J-beam tips expected to remain over 50m above the typical water level for the majority of the time, facilitating navigation within the port. Construction took three years, with the bascule span fabricated in Europe before being shipped and installed. The bridge opened in November 2024. 

The judges described the project as: "A challenging engineering design, which was only achieved through collaboration across all parties, making it a real showpiece of engineering. High-level engineering and the structure’s interesting design have culminated in a landmark bridge."

Commissioning authority: Suffolk County Council

Lead designer: Arup

Main contractor: Farrans Construction

Associated key firms: Moxon Architects (architecture), Victor Buyck Steel Construction (fabrication), Bam (consultant), Eadon (MEICA lead), Oilgear (lead MEICA subcontractor)

In this category, the judges awarded a highly commended award to the Kepax Bridge spanning the River Severn in Worcester, Worcestershire.

The 145m long and 4m wide asymmetric bridge has a profile resembling a hockey stick. It features a 29m tall, inclined A-shaped pylon supporting the deck with stay cables spaced 12m apart. The prefabricated deck includes inward-leaning duplex stainless-steel rods forming a handrail and 1.4m tall cycle railing for safety. Connecting wooded grassland to the suburban communities of Hallow and St Johns, the bridge completes Worcester’s active travel network over the River Severn. Designed with community input, it balances civic ambition with sensitivity to the natural landscape, providing a comfortable crossing for both cyclists and pedestrians. The bridge opened in December 2024. 

The judges said: "The bridge is an attractive and well-engineered solution, which showed innovation in the use of existing components as dampers. Great care was taken to consider all aspects of the pedestrian's journey, right down to non-slip surfacing."

Commissioning authority: Worcestershire County Council

Structural engineer: Jacobs

Lead designer: Jacobs

Main contractor: Alun Griffiths

Associated key firms: Moxon Architects (architecture)

The Bridges International Award

Honouring outstanding UK contributions to international bridge projects, the winner for projects valued below £10 million is Armadillo Bridge spanning the Regen River in the City of Roding, Bavaria, Germany. 

The multi-span bridge has a 53m-long main span with ramp sections on the eastern side measuring 15m and 17m. Its elegant design complements the natural beauty of the Regen River.

Connecting the Mitterdorf district to Roding’s historic centre, the bridge features a welded, haunched steel box girder for durability and a slim profile, reducing future maintenance. Six prefabricated steel sections were transported and assembled on temporary supports, with a mobile crane positioning the superstructure. Afterward, finishing works such as handrail installation and application of resin-bound surface layer were carried out. The ramp section was completed within days using geosynthetic-reinforced earth, showcasing efficiency and innovation. The bridge opened in September 2024. 

The judges remarked: "An extremely elegant and slender design, which sees the structure blend perfectly into its environment. Sustainability considerations include low-maintenance weathering steel and off-site fabrication."

Commissioning authority: City of Roding, Bavaria

UK-based contributor: DKFS (design)

Associated key firms: Mayr-Ludescher Partners (structural engineering), Lex-Kerfers Landschaftsarchitekten (landscape architects), Rädlinger Maschinen und Stahlbau (main contractor steelworks), Strabag (substructure concrete works)

The winner in the category for projects above £10 million is the Küstrin-Kietz Rail Crossing spanning the River Oder on the border between Germany and Poland.

The 266m long bridge replaces a pre-World War 2 single-track truss with a 130m high steel network arch, its crown positioned above the border’s demarcation line. The delicate structure blends effortlessly into the three-span eastern approach on the Polish side.

Using carbon cables instead of flat bar steel hangers, the design significantly reduces the bridge’s weight. It is the world’s first rail bridge to use high-performance carbon material for load-bearing elements. Part of the Berlin-Kostrzyn-Gorzów railway modernisation, the bridge aims to boost growth and improve regional and EU transport connections. The bridge opened in July 2024. 

The judges said: "A very well-engineered arch with innovative hangers. Excellent engineering design resulted in a slender and lightweight railway crossing with strong sustainability credentials."

Commissioning authority: DB Infra Go, Bestandsnetz Berlin, I.II-O-A-B

UK-based contributor: Knight Architects (competition architecture and architectural concept guardian)

Main contractor: Sächsische Bau

Associated key firms: Schüßler-Plan (civil engineering), schlaich bergermann partner (realised design of superstructure with carbon hangers), Carbo-Link (carbon hanger manufacturing)

In this category, the judges highly commended the Karowa Bridge in Warsaw, Vistula, Poland.

The 463m long steel box girder bridge features a 120m main span supported by an asymmetric suspension structure with an inclined pylon. The pylon’s height above the deck is kept to 8.4m to preserve views of the nearby historic castle and Warsaw’s skyline.

Designed with bending points, the bridge includes observation decks with open staircases offering views of the old city. It complements the new Vistula Bank Boulevards, enhancing the Vistula River as a recreational space and integrating seamlessly with existing infrastructure. The bridge aims to support the further development of Vistula’s right river bank. The bridge opened in March 2024. 

The judges said: "This bridge has enhanced the public realm in Warsaw, Poland. Its visual appeal makes it a place to visit in its own right."

Commissioning authority: City of Warsaw

UK-based contributor: DKFS (design)

Associated key firms: Schüßler-Plan (engineering and structural design), Budimex (contractor)

Bridges Ethos Award

Recognising outstanding apprenticeship programmes and staff training initiatives in the bridge sector, the winner is the Tees Viaduct Substructure Refurbishment Package 1 in Stockton on Tees.  

The 1.9km viaduct, built in 1975, connects Middlesbrough and Stockton-on-Tees, carrying around 112,000 vehicles daily over land, roads, rail, and the River Tees. Due to corrosion and cracked expansion joints, repairs were needed. Initially set for demolition and replacement, smart engineering allowed the viaduct to be preserved and rehabilitated, reducing carbon impact, costs, and disruption.

The project team engaged local communities, creating social value through initiatives that included improving a church ground, providing job opportunities through prison visits, and offering educational outreach in schools. The package 1 works were completed in July 2023.

The judges said: "Outstanding approach to staff well-being and safety throughout the project. Stakeholders demonstrated passion in promoting engineering in the community and retaining talent in the sector."

Commissioning authority: National Highways and Autolink Concessionaries

Structural engineer: AECOM

Main contractor: Sir Robert McAlpine

Associated key firms: Concrete Repairs Ltd (subcontractor)

The Bridges Sustainability Award

Recognising innovations in reducing carbon emissions in bridge projects. The 2025 winner is the River Lea Crossing Refurbishment in London.  

The 60m single-span, two-pinned arch bridge, built in 1934, carries the busy A13 route over the River Lea in East London. The steel structure has a deck with buckle plates and stringer beams supported by spandrel posts.

Despite previous modifications, the bridge faced issues such as corrosion from lack of deck waterproofing, a failing paint system, tidal submersion of the pin bearings, and limited fatigue life. Initially set for demolition, an extensive programme of surveys, studies and monitoring demonstrated the bridge could be preserved. A rehabilitation plan was developed to extend its service life by 120 years, equivalent to a new structure.

The judges said: "The project preserved 84% of the original structure, maximising the benefits of already invested carbon. A brave project with a smart sustainability story, illustrating the value of refurbishment over replacement and the effort required to make hard decisions."

Commissioning authority: Road Management Services (A13) Plc

Structural engineer: Hewson Consulting Engineers

Main contractor: Volker Fitzpatrick

Associated key firms: Transport for London (asset owner)

The Bridges Management Award

Recognising excellence in bridge maintenance, inspection, or management, no award was conferred in this category this year. While there were commendable efforts, the panel felt they didn’t quite reach the exceptional level this prestigious award represents. 

The Bridge Owners Forum Lifetime Achievement Award

Recognising exceptional contributions to the bridge industry, this year’s winner is Richard Fish, director of Richard Fish Consultancy.

With nearly 50 years of experience in bridge design, construction, maintenance, and management, Richard is a leading bridge expert in the UK. A former chair of the UK Bridges Board and technical secretary of the Bridge Owners Forum, he has significantly advanced bridge management practices. Richard is also co-editor of Highway Bridge Management and author of a book on bridge collapses and lessons learned. A Fellow of both ICE and IStructE, Richard has mentored many young engineers throughout his career.

Richard Fish (right) receives his award from Cam Middleton, chair of Bridge Owners Forum and Laing O’Rourke professor of construction engineering, University of Cambridge

Congratulations to all winners and highly commended projects for their exceptional contributions to the bridge industry!

For more information about the Bridges Awards, visit: https://www.bridgesawards.co.uk/