THE role of civil engineers in adapting the region’s infrastructure to meet the challenges of climate change is being highlighted at the region’s top engineering awards.

Among the shortlisted finalists is the Buckfast Abbey Fish Pass.

Ten infrastructure projects from Cornwall, Devon, Gloucestershire and Somerset are vying to walk away with a trophy in recognition of industry excellence in design and construction.

The winners of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) South West Civil Engineering Awards 2022 will be announced by Rob Bell, TV presenter and engineer, at a gala ceremony in the Bristol Marriott Hotel City Centre.

This was due to be held on September 15 but has not been cancelled out of respect for the Queen. The event will be held at a later date.

The new, state-of-the art fish pass at the Abbey at Buckfastleigh was installed to facilitate the upstream migration of salmon and sea trout, which can often be inhibited by manmade structures.

This new fish pass replaced the historic, failing Victorian pool pass at the Abbey, which had been damaged in periods of high-water flows in 2020.

There are also accolades marking achievement among the upcoming generation of civil engineers.

Judges visited all the shortlisted projects over two days in June 2022 to assess which schemes would receive top honours.

For the first time, the Resilience Award will be presented to a project that demonstrates innovation and ingenuity in adapting to the impacts of climate change and enabling improvements to biodiversity or carbon reduction.

All finalists have also shown evidence of their commitment to sustainability and meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.