CUMBRIAN projects account for almost one third of the nominations at this year’s Civil Engineering Awards for the North West.

A hi-tech motorway marking scheme, an Ulverston sewage project and an accident-cutting roundabout are among the county’s six project entries vying for a prestigious gong.

And for the first time in five years, the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) is bringing its North West Annual Awards presentation to Cumbria.

The awards will be presented during a dinner at Carlisle’s Halston Hotel on Friday by Sir John Armitt, current President of ICE, former head of Network Rail but probably best known as the man who delivered the 2012 London Olympics.

And Cumbrian projects this year make up almost one-third of the project entries – six nominations out of a total 19 from all around North West England and the Isle of Man.

Cumbria’s nominations for the 2016 awards are:

l A £2.8m Furness roundabout scheme designed to cut accidents and boost regeneration (the A590 Greenodd Roundabout).

l A hi-tech motorway marking scheme to improve safety and driving conditions at several sites on the M6 between Junctions 37 (Kendal/Sedbergh) and 45 (north of Carlisle). The markings were made from Weatherline Plus - an innovative form of goo – which uses a ‘dot and line’ system to increase reflectivity in wet conditions

l A £9.5m car park scheme that paves the way for a new GSK biopharmaceutical plant at Ulverston.

l An Ulverston sewage project nominated for both the Medium Project Award and the Community Award. United Utilities’ new detention tank and sewer overflow in Ulverston reduces the risk of spill

l A Community Award nomination for collaboration between Kier Highways and the Recycling Lives charity, covering Cumbria and North Lancashire – slashing construction waste by diverting it from landfill, while creating local jobs.

Also, for the first time, this year ICE North West will present a Civil Engineering Heritage Award – and nominations include the Hodbarrow sea defences at Millom, built originally to protect mining operations but which now protect an RSPB bird sanctuary.

Darrell Matthews, North West Regional Director of the Institution of Civil Engineers, said: “We hold these awards every year to showcase the best of civil engineering from around North West England and the Isle of Man, and it’s great to see such a strong showing from Cumbria.

“Between them, the Cumbrian projects nominated for this year’s awards show how civil engineering can save lives, improve road safety, support economic regeneration, serve local communities and help protect the natural environment.”