A DARLINGTON firm has been honoured for its role in landmark projects around the country.

The efforts of the team at Cleveland Bridge UK were recognised at the prestigious Steel Structural Awards recently.

The 50th anniversary of the awards saw the company win for its work on the regeneration of London Bridge Station, which serves around 54m people each year.

The project saw Cleveland Bridge provide fabrication and logistics expertise in a bid to ensure installation works at the station could be completed successfully and to a strict timetable.

Trial erections were carried out in Darlington, which included the construction of 29 plate girder decks that were subsequently delivered and installed on site.

The company also received a special commendation for its contribution to the construction of the Queensferry Crossing.

Using around 5,000 ton of British-made steel, it fabricated two lines of girders, 550m in length, for the ‘Approach Viaduct South’ on the £1.35bn bridge, which connects Edinburgh to Fife.

The girders, created at the firm’s 22 acre facility, were assembled on site, along with parallel girders - measuring 80m and weighing 500te - that were made for and installed on the Approach Viaduct North.

The work on the latter viaduct was described as a more complex and extensive operation because “it involved moving the massive steel and reinforced concrete structure, with a total launch weight of 6,300te around 230m out towards the bridge’s north tower.

The managing director of Cleveland Bridge UK said workers were proud to have been recognised for their efforts.

Chris Droogan said: “We are very proud to receive recognition to these landmark projects by the structural steel industry.

“These projects highlight our success and capability to deliver complex, high-profile structural steel developments and the awards are a positive endorsement of the skills and capabilities that exist within our company and wider group.”

Mr Droogan also praised his team for a recent project that saw them install two 1,050 ton bridges in just 11 hours using 12 girders fabricated in Darlington.

The bridges were part of Highways England’s A14 Huntington to Cambridge Improvement Scheme and were erected ahead of schedule following months of planning in what Mr Droogan called a "great achievement" for the "skilled and talented workforce". Their efforts meant road closures were lifted 18 hours early.