Two bridges modified as part of the Oxford Transport Strategy have won prestigious awards.

The technique used on one of the bridges, Hythe Bridge, is believed to be a world first.

Earlier this year, changes to Station Square meant Hythe Bridge Street becoming two-way, but before that could happen the cast-iron bridge over the Thames backwater needed strengthening.

Closing Hythe Bridge Street would have caused too much traffic congestion, so Oxfordshire County Council bridge engineers came up with an innovative system which minimised disruption. The system, involving the use of high-strength carbon fibre, has won the title of best small project in the 1999 British Construction Industry Awards.

The two new footbridges at St Frideswide's Bridge in Botley Road were awarded the best Civil Engineering Design Merit Award, given by the Thames Valley branch of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

The judges said they particularly liked this simple and elegant design, which blended well with the existing listed structure.

The new footbridges allowed cycle lanes to be built on the original bridge, completing the cycle way along Botley Road and improving safety for pedestrians. The work was also recognised by the Oxford Preservation Trust, which awarded the county council one of its annual environmental awards for the 'contribution made to the preservation and enhancement of Oxford's heritage'.

Peter Brown, county council bridge enginee, said: "We are extremely pleased to receive these awards."

Story date: Friday 05 November

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.