Record Number Of Entries In 2008 Roading Awards

MEDIA RELEASE
23 July 2008

Record Number Of Entries In 2008 Roading Awards

The 2008 Roading Excellence Awards have attracted a record number of entries, with 30 projects vying for the seven awards.

The awards, supported by Roading New Zealand, promote leadership, excellence and best practice in the provision of land transport infrastructure, and encourage collaboration in the roading industry.

Roading New Zealand chief executive Chris Olsen is impressed by the number and quality of the projects entered in the awards programme, which is in its fourth year.

Entries this year include Auckland’s Northern Busway, the Twizel Town Centre Upgrade, the Northern Gateway Alliance, Auckland City Council’s procurement of Auckland Road Maintenance Alliance, and Downer EDI Works’ New Roads to Knowledge programme.

Mr Olsen says it is particularly pleasing that almost half the entries received this year are joint entries, such as the collaboration involving Opus International, Higgins Contractors, Transit New Zealand and Napier City Council on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway Meeanee Interchange, and Transit New Zealand and Fulton Hogan’s Centennial Highway Median Barrier Project,

“It’s fantastic to see companies in the sector working together to build capacity and cultivate sustainable growth within the industry.”

The Roading Excellence Awards are a great way to celebrate achievements of these companies that excel in all aspects of roading projects and best practice, he says.

John Wills, chief executive of the awards’ principal sponsor, InfraTrain, says the organisation is proud to again be associated with the awards.

“We see a natural link between InfraTrain, the industry training organisation (ITO) for the infrastructure industry, and the Roading Excellence Awards. We believe it is important to acknowledge and celebrate achievements within the industry, as industry training is very much a key part of these success stories,” Mr Wills says.

The six award categories in 2008 are the Shell Bitumen Excellence Award for a Major Road Project; the Goughs Excellence Award for a Minor Road Project; three InfraTrain New Zealand Industry Best Practice Awards – People, Procurement and Environmental Sustainability; and the Roading New Zealand Supreme Award.

Finalists in the competition will be announced on 6 August, and the winners will be announced at a gala dinner attended by Transport Minister Annette King and industry leaders at the Duxton Hotel in Wellington on 25 August.

For more information about the awards, go to www.roadingnz.org.nz

ENDS

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