Iconic ‘Hanson’s Ale’ metro bridge clinches heritage award

Midland Metro Alliance and its key design partner Tony Gee are celebrating after their collaborative design and delivery of the ‘Hanson’s Ale’ bridge, the final structure delivered for phase one of the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension, received a major accolade.

The much-loved new Metro bridge in Tipton, which was installed across Birmingham New Road during the summer, scooped the Heritage prize at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) West Midlands award during a gala in Birmingham last night (19 September).

The ICE West Midlands judges were impressed by the bridge's homage to the previous structure, a "local landmark."

The organisations, responsible for designing and delivering Metro extensions on behalf of Transport for West Midlands, went above and beyond to ensure the new bridge retained its iconic green and gold colour scheme, a nod to the former Hanson's Ale branding.

This marks the second consecutive year the partners have been celebrated in the Heritage category at the ICE West Midlands Awards. In 2023, the restoration of the historic Parkhead Viaduct in Dudley received high commendation from the same judging panel.

David Lea, associate director, Tony Gee and Partners, said: "This award is a testament to the successful collaboration between Tony Gee and the Midland Metro Alliance. We are thrilled to have contributed to the preservation of this cherished local landmark, ensuring it continues to serve the community for generations to come.”

Tom Maplethorpe, Midland Metro Alliance project director for the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension, added: “It is truly gratifying to see the Hanson’s Ale bridge acknowledged by such a respected local institution with this award.

“Not without its challenges, from concept design through to delivery, the teams’ efforts have prioritized the preservation of this local icon - a shining example of the MMA's dedication to leaving a positive legacy.”

This win is part of a recent wave of industry recognition for the organisation's work on structures for the highly anticipated Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension.

Earlier this summer, the restoration of Parkhead Viaduct won the Rail Bridge Project of the Year award at the inaugural New Civil Engineer Bridges Awards.

The alliance’s heritage-focused approach has also been acknowledged as one of the light rail industry’s Visions of the Year, while the delivery of a massive delta junction for the scheme in Wednesbury is a contender for the Outstanding Engineering Initiative of the Year.

Both categories will be decided at next month’s Global Light Rail Awards in London.