A road in the Vale of Glamorgan has been recognised in the ‘Constructing Excellence in Wales’ Awards 2020, as the St Athan Northern Access Road was awarded the ‘Civils’ Project of the Year.
The new £15m road was opened by Economy, Transport and North Wales Minister Ken Skates on 30th September 2019. It was funded by the Welsh Government and built by Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd, from Abergavenny.
The road provides access to Bro Tathan Business Park – home to major occupiers including Aston Martin Lagonda, eCube Solutions and Bristow Helicopters. It therefore acts as an important economic link, enabling inward investment and encouraging future development.
Construction of the road created substantial active travel provision as well as benefits to biodiversity. A bespoke lighting scheme designed with Natural Resources Wales is in place to mitigate the impact on dormice and bats, while consultation with a fish ecology specialist led to a uniquely designed stream culvert to assist with the passage of fish through their habitats.
Ken Skates, Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales, said:
“Bro Tathan is a significant part of Wales’ economic infrastructure and this road provides much-needed access to all of the opportunities it brings.
“All construction projects bring challenges, which in this case were met with a great deal of innovation and creativity. I want to thank everyone involved in the project for their hard work and I’m pleased they have received recognition through this much-deserved award.”
Ian Thomas, Project Manager for Alun Griffiths Contractors said:
“We are thrilled to receive accolade for our part in delivering the St Athan Northern Access Road. It was truly a pleasure to be part of a one team ethos that held collaboration and innovation as core values, ensuring all team members were engaged to overcome the challenges faced.”
Rhys Mander, AECOM Regional Director, said:
“AECOM is proud to have supported Welsh Government in providing cost effective solutions to a complex infrastructure challenge at Bro Tathan. Leaving a legacy for the wider community for generations to come, this project shows how genuine innovation can be delivered through imaginative forward thinking and collaboration.”
Piers Burroughs, Managing Director at Burroughs, commented:
“It was a privilege to be part of successfully delivering such a challenging engineering scheme. The whole team’s commitment, collaborative and innovative approaches were inspiring.”
A TACP spokesperson added:
“The integrated approach and collaboration of the whole team resulted in the successful implementation of sensitive and exemplary environmental mitigation. It was a great project to be a part of.”
