Innovation in climate resilience

This award seeks to recognise the best adaptation of an existing bridge or demonstration of how climate change has been considered on a new bridge from the outset to ensure the structure remains fit for purpose throughout its design life.

A487 New Dyfi Bridge
Arup, Griffiths and Welsh Government

The A487 New Dyfi Bridge climate resilience scheme delivers vital flood protection to mid-Wales, promoting prosperous and cohesive communities. Through construction of flood defences and a viaduct over the Dyfi floodplain, the scheme removes the need for a 46 mile diversion during increasingly common periods of flooding to access essential services. The Griffiths and Arup team collaborated with their supply chain to ensure an optimised design was developed to minimise the adverse effects of flooding whilst ensuring the scheme is climate resilient.

Apperley Lane Bridge
Bam Nutall Mott MacDonald JV

Apperley Lane Bridge forms a crucial part of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme which protects over a thousand homes and nearly 500 businesses. The bridge was strengthened to resist increased hydraulic loads from climate change-induced flooding, delivering increased structural resilience. Construction risks, such as instability during fill removal and potential flood damage, were proactively identified and mitigated. Heritage preservation was a key consideration, with interventions designed to maintain the bridge’s historic fabric. The project balanced the need for climate resilience with the importance of conserving historical structures, making it an award-winning example of sustainable and sensitive engineering.

Behaviour of Masonry Arch Bridges Subject to Flood Flow and Floating Debris Impact
University of Salford and University of Manchester

Climate change and associated flood events are an engineering challenge for bridge engineers. To assess existing masonry arch bridges crossing watercourses, we must first understand the complex interaction between flood flow carrying floating debris and the superstructure of masonry arch bridges. This can only be achieved with a collaboration of academics and practitioners. I and my colleagues are dedicated to tackling this engineering problem and to shaping the future of the assessment approach for masonry arch bridges crossing watercourses by bringing academics and practitioners.