A MAJOR tunnelling project at Hinkley Point C which has won a prize at a prestigious civil engineering event, was described by judges as ‘an epic feat of engineering on an awe-inspiring scale’.

At last week’s Institution of Civil Engineers South West Civil Engineering Awards ceremony in Bristol, Hinkley Point C Marine Works Tunnels was presented with the award for an over £8m new build.

As well as praise for the technical aspects, the judges also acknowledged the Hinkley team’s resilience in overcoming challenges during the pandemic.

Balfour Beatty Project Director, Roger Frost, said: “We’re extremely pleased to have won the award for such an important scheme.

“This significant achievement is the culmination of the hard work and tenacity of our expert team, who have worked efficiently and safely through what has been an incredibly challenging period.”

Taking more than three years to construct, the project saw the completion of all the onshore primary lining tunnel construction works, the excavation of one of the two Intake tunnels and launching a boring machine for the outfall tunnel.

The project forms part of cooling water supply system for Hinkley Point C, the first new nuclear power station to be built in the UK in over 20 years.

Mike Gallop, chairman of the judging panel, said: “These awards are an amazing showcase for our regional industry, highlighting the endeavour, passion and technical ability that goes into building things.

But more than that, the awards shine a light on what infrastructure can do for people. It’s this human impact that has really defined the awards this year.

“In particular, how civil engineers in the southwest have responded during a time of crisis to deliver on behalf of their communities.”