The Historic Bridge and Infrastructure Awards (HBIA) were set up in 1998 by County Surveyors Society, English Heritage and The Institution of Civil Engineers Panel for Historical Engineering Works to 'recognise and encourage excellence and innovation in conservation'.

Nominations were invited for projects involving bridges, aqueducts, tunnels, and other transport-related structures such as retaining walls, locks, wharves and large station roofs, but excluding buildings.

The nominated project must have involved structural maintenance, strengthening, and restoration or conservation of a structure more than 30 years old and must be within England, Wales or Scotland.

The 78 year old year old Bascule Bridge was closed for inspection and repair in May 2008 and subsequently condemned due to natural corrosion. The owners of the bridge Peel, worked closely with Liverpool Council’s Heritage and Highways Departments to find a solution to safeguard this landmark.

The bridge is the only surviving example of a rolling Bascule lifting bridge in Liverpool and is an integral feature of the Stanley Dock Conservation Area and the World Heritage designation. It is also an important link in the north south highway network.

In addition to repairs and replacement of parts of the steel structure, the timber engine house on top of the bridge has been given a new natural slate roof and aluminium rainwater pipes making it a key feature of the overall design. The motorised equipment has been retained inside the engine room and the bridge has been painted in its original colours.

The bridge was officially re-opened to the public on 25th August 2010 by Liverpool City Council Leader Joe Anderson.

Ian Pollitt, Development Investment Surveyor at Peel said, “We are delighted to have won this award. We have worked extremely hard to ensure the restoration works were in fitting with the heritage of the bridge and are delighted that this has been recognised”.

Liverpool City Council Leader, Councillor Joe Anderson, said: “It’s fantastic news that the council’s work with Peel to restore the Bascule Bridge to its former glory has received national recognition. It has been a delight to see this historic bridge open again, and this award is very well deserved.”

David Greenfield, Technical Secretary for the awards, said: “This historically significant landmark structure has been sympathetically and skillfully restored, and it is now once again an important component in the local transport network within the Liverpool World Heritage Site.”