The annual Robert Stephenson Awards showcase civil engineering excellence from across the region.
ICE North East has announced the projects that have made the 2026 Robert Stephenson Awards shortlist.
This year’s shortlist is made up of a wide variety of projects from eel screens and major highway schemes to a restored passenger railway and new city centre bridge.
They successfully showcase the range of engineering work going on across the region from Northumberland down to the Tees Valley.
Judges were tasked with deciding the 19 shortlisted projects from a competitive pool of entrants.
ICE North East will announce the winners on the evening of 21 May 2026 at the annual dinner and awards ceremony, taking place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Newcastle.
The 2026 shortlist
Project awards
Projects stand to win one of four categories:
- Large Project Award: for projects costing £5m and over
- Medium Project Award: for projects costing between £1m and £5m
- Small Project Award: for projects costing under £1m
- Technical excellence award: for teams delivering a low carbon solution within the built environment
The shortlisted projects are:
- A1 Birtley to Coal House
- A19 Corridor Improvement Project
- Coundon Burn Pollution Risk Reduction
- Don Valley Rising Main Rehabilitation
- Gateshead Viaduct – Emergency Stabilisation and Pier Strengthening Works
- Holborn Enabling Works
- IAMP A1290 Dualling
- Instrumentation & Pressure Relief Improvements at Cow Green Reservoir
- Keel Crossing
- Mitford Dam MIOS
- NEP 1 QUAY – Ash Barge Dock
- North and South Shields Pier Repairs
- NWG High Spills Programme
- Ovingham Raw Water Pumping Station Eel Screens
- Pilgrim’s Quarter
- Redcar Bulk Terminal Upgrade
- The Northumberland Line
- West Park Flood Alleviation Scheme, Hartlepool
- WINEP Kirklevington Transfer
Individual awards
Individual entrants could win one of three categories:
- STEM Ambassador of the Year Award
- FIR (fairness, inclusion and respect) Champion Award
- Sustainability Champion Award
The shortlisted individuals are: Paul Eckersley, Evangelos Petropoulous, Matthew Pollard and Andrew Walker.
The ICE North East Annual Dinner and Robert Stephenson Awards 2026 is sponsored by CDM Recruitment.
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