The Jones Bridge project in Mickle Trafford, near Chester, has been nominated for the ‘Pollinator Award’ at the Biodiversity Challenge Awards 2017.
The event has been organised by the Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) as they aim to raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity and how it can be incorporated on different projects.
Jones Bridge was shortlisted because of the biodiversity efforts on site and care taken to protect the local habitat. The Murphy team conducted specialist ecological surveys such as a great crested newt survey as well as carefully selecting access points to minimise the impact of machinery.
Jamie Skillin, site manager for the Jones Bridge project, was incredibly pleased to hear the site has been recognised, he said: “It’s fantastic to see the work we put into the biodiversity aspect of this project has been recognised by highly respected individuals in the industry. It was a really interesting site to manage and it’s been particularly pleasing for those involved to re-visit the site and see the wildlife continue to flourish. We're looking forward to the award's ceremony and fingers crossed we pick up the award.”
Over 20-kgs of wildflower meadow-seeds were spread across the site to support birds and other resident wildlife. Permanent pasture seeds were also spread across the area used for access to the compound in order to not only restore the area but to improve it. Defunct trunks and branches removed during the work were piled on an adjacent project and acted as a perfect habitat for wildlife, therefore also reducing disposal of waste off-site.
Murphy's Jones Bridge project involved replacing an underbridge as part of a renewals framework with Network Rail, costing £600,000. The works took place from February to May 2016 and included removal of trees, construction of a temporary haul road and compound area, replacement of the existing single span underbridge and planting hedgerows.
