The Highways Agency has won an award for its work on the M20 Chatham Road in Kent.

United Kingdom – The Highways Agency has won an award from the Institution of Civil Engineers for its work on the M20 Chatham Road in Kent.

The Innovation Award recognised the Agency’s bridge repair work, which was carried out in March 2005.

A new heat straightening technique was used to repair the bridge and, as a result, minimal disruption was caused to drivers as the busy road did not have to be closed.

"Normally, repairing this bridge would have meant cutting out the damaged section and replacing it," said Simon Duke, area manager for the Agency.

"By using heat straightening we were able to keep disruption to a minimum because we did not have to close any roads."

The innovation has been introduced in England recently, while the US has already been using it for some time.