AECOM notches up industry awards and accolades
Globally trusted infrastructure firm AECOM has received various awards and accolades from some of the leading professional associations in South Africa. This is testament to its multidisciplinary approach and capabilities. “I do not think anyone else has the breadth of services and expertise that we have, which stands us well in delivering sustainable legacies for our clients,” comments Africa MD Darrin Green. “We believe that infrastructure creates opportunities for everyone.”
At the SANRAL SAICE 2022 National Awards on 1 September, Duard Erasmus was Highly Commended in the Young Technologist category. Erasmus is currently an Associate Technologist at AECOM in the structural engineering division and manages the Bloemfontein office. He has overseen many largescale and diverse projects, including Stadia Olympia Lepereng (SOLL) and Skyvest.
At the 50th CESA Aon Engineering Excellence Awards on 28 September, Tim Ter Haar was recognised for his contribution to the development and promotion of the consulting engineering industry with the Lifetime Industry Achievement Award, presented to him posthumously. It was with great shock that last year the engineering industry tragically lost a well-respected member with the untimely passing of Tim on 18 May 2021 at the age of 52.
The citation stated: “We do not just want to honour the memory of a dear colleague with this Lifetime Industry Achievement Award, but for it to showcase an incredibly dedicated engineering career and use it to inspire young engineers and how they can make a difference in this valuable and rewarding industry.”
Green adds: “Tim was a leader, colleague, mentor and friend. He was a valued member of AECOM for almost 30 years and his contributions to the business, as well as to the industry, were vast and influential.”
In the category of Projects with a Value Between R250 million and R1 billion, AECOM received a commendation for the Rehabilitation of 13.4 km of Trunk Road 31 2 from Ashton to Montagu through Cogmanskloof, including the New Ashton Arch Bridge, for the Western Cape Government’s Department of Transport & Public Works, Roads Branch. The latter also received an award for Visionary Client of the Year.
The project aimed to reconstruct parts of the Trunk Road 31 Sections 2 and 3 from Ashton to Montagu, start of the important tourism Route 62, with more than 8 000 vehicles travelling through Ashton and 4 000 vehicles through Cogmanskloof Pass toward Montagu every day.
Traffic and pedestrian safety were enhanced and the flood capacity of bridges and resistance of the overtopping of the road at several problem locations were improved. This included upgrading the historic Cogmanskloof Pass, originally completed in 1877 by the renowned road engineer Thomas Bain. The New Ashton Arch is South Africa’s first concrete tied arch bridge constructed using a transverse launching method. The uniquely constructed bridge also won two Fulton Concrete Awards 2022 earlier this year.
At the Construction World Best Projects Awards on 9 November, AECOM was highly commended in the Consulting Engineers category for upgrading of National Route 7 (N7) Section 1 from Atlantis south to Kalbaskraal (Phase 2). Undertaken by the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL), it links Cape Town with the international Namibia border towards the north.
The entire section of the N7 in the Western Cape between the Melkbos Interchange just outside Cape Town and the town of Malmesbury has now finally been upgraded to a dual carriageway freeway in line with recommendations made in various traffic studies done. This section of the N7 was divided into three project phases, with AECOM the successful bidder for all three consulting engineering services appointments.
AECOM has capability in architecture, electrical, ICT, plumbing, structural and mechanical engineering, civils, cost management and control, quantity surveying, building fitout and control systems, geotechnical engineering and even environmental and sustainability advisory services.
“We are truly a kind of one-stop shop, which I do not believe anyone else can lay claim to locally. We are strong in each of those disciplines. A multidisciplinary approach is critical to large, complex infrastructure projects such as the ones recognised by our peers,” highlights Green. AECOM also has access to global expertise and best practice.
Website: www.aecom.com
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