One of Howard Civil Engineering’s most high-profile projects, Hard Ings Road, has won a prestigious award from the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation.

Howard Civil Engineering’s road improvement works on behalf of Bradford Council along the A650, which ran from 2019 to 2020, earned the project the John Smeaton Award for the Best Large Highways and Transportation Project 2021 for Yorkshire and the Humber. This award recognises the best project, study, or scheme valued over £1million completed in the last 18 months.

We undertook a range of improvement works on this scheme with the aim of both easing vehicle congestion and improving safety for road and footpath users, including widening the existing dual carriageway, adding new pedestrian and cycle crossings, and installing new traffic lights on the roundabout.

The judges were particularly impressed with the wide-ranging scope of the scheme which took into consideration the areas surrounding the highway, and its benefits to the community and the region. The also said it was 'very high value for money', with a cost-benefit ratio of £6.24 to every pound spent.

Contracts manager Tony Kilbane (pictured, third left) gave high praise to the site team who delivered the scheme: “Hard Ings Road was a very high-profile scheme in which the local community were deeply invested, and I am thrilled to hear that the project has won such a prestigious award. I would like to congratulate everyone who worked on the project on delivering such a high-quality product.”

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration Planning and Transport, said: “The improvements which have been carried out at Hard Ings Road are aimed at easing congestion, increasing road capacity, enhancing safety for road users, and boosting investment opportunities in the Keighley area. I’m delighted that it’s been so well received by members of the public.”

The scheme for Hard Ings Road was developed by the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council. The scheme received investment through the West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund as part of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Growth Deal - a £1 billion package of government investment to accelerate growth and create jobs across Leeds City Region.