A £2.2 million project which improved a notorious stretch of the A72 road has won a national award.
The Dirtpot Corner improvement works, led by the Scottish Borders Council, scooped the geotechnical value of under £500,000 award at the Ground Engineering UK virtual awards ceremony.
The project resulted in the corner near Cardrona being widened by three metres and resurfaced – with a new retaining wall structure installed alongside the River Tweed.
Contractors SBc Contracts, Albion Drilling Group, MHB Consultants and Maccaferri worked alongside the local authority on the scheme.
Beginning in August 2018, initial work saw foundations for a six metre high stone faced wall completed before winter, with the wall then being built up to allow the safety parapet to be accommodated, road widened and re-surfaced.
SBc Contracts carried out the road improvements, which aim to reduce traffic incidents – particularly issues with heavy goods vehicles meeting at the corner. The council said this will reduce on-going maintenance costs and improve its safety record.
The Dirtpot Corner was only closed for two days throughout the 11 months of the project, with construction work being undertaken from the river bank to ensure impact on road users was minimised.
Councillor Gordon Edgar, executive member for infrastructure, travel and transport, said, “I am delighted that the work carried out by the Council and its partners on the Dirtpot Corner improvement scheme has been recognised.
“The council found a solution for Dirtpot Corner which met the various environmental and road requirements and the result was a significantly better section of road for locals and commuters to use.”
