Intricate work to repair a landslip-damaged road in County Durham has scooped a prestigious construction award.

Completed by Esh Construction, the project on Browney Lane at Burnigill Bank has been recognised as Civils Project of the Year at the 2023 Constructing Excellence North East Awards.

The slip, which happened close to the East Coast Mainline, required a road closure from July 2022 by Durham County Council to allow Esh Construction to firstly stabilise the area and then start works on repairing the road with a long-term solution.

Steven Garrigan, divisional director at Esh Construction, said: “This was an extremely challenging scheme to deliver due to difficult ground conditions, continued ground movement and poor weather conditions.

“However, working collaboratively with our client, the designers and our subcontractors we were able to overcome these challenges and re-open the road as programmed before the new year.”

Cllr John Shuttleworth, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for rural communities, highways, and community safety, said: “This route is an important link for residents and businesses, so it was essential that the programme of works was done quickly and to schedule.”

The Northern Echo: The completed workThe completed work

Esh’s civil engineering division delivered the scheme on behalf of the council, with work including excavation of the damaged road surface and the installation of 184 concrete piles up to 18 metres below the existing road level to stabilise the carriageway.

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Five reinforced capping beams were installed before the carriageway was reinstated. Additional works included surface water drainage, kerbs, safety barriers and fencing.

In keeping with Esh Construction’s commitment to delivering social value across its projects, they were able to re-invest 70 per cent of the project value within a 30-mile radius of the site through local procurement and labour provision. In addition, a £3,000 donation was made to a local community group in Ferryhill via Esh’s Greener Communities programme.

Esh also delivered three employability sessions at Parkside Academy in Willington and site visits were facilitated for students from Leeds University and apprentices from Durham County Council.