The Destiny Bridge and The New Kingsway, delivered by Perth & Kinross Council with BAM, won the Project Excellence and Innovation Award at the 2025 NEC Martin Barnes Awards.

The council was also runner-up for Client of the Year at the awards, which followed the NEC Annual Conference at One Great George Street in London on 16 June 2025.

The Destiny Bridge and The New Kingsway, which opened in March this year, are part of Perth & Kinross Council’s most ambitious infrastructure project to date.

The award win has highlighted the council’s pioneering approach to sustainable, community-focused project delivery.

As phase 2 of the wider Perth Transport Futures Project (PTFP), the £150 million scheme includes the landmark Destiny Bridge, six kilometres of new carriageway, 12 kilometres of active travel paths, a new park-and-choose facility, and major environmental enhancements such as a green bridge and wetland area.

Jillian Ferguson, roads and infrastructure manager at Perth & Kinross Council, said: “We are honoured to receive this international recognition from NEC.

“These awards reflect the hard work of our teams, partners and communities in delivering infrastructure that’s not only functional and future-proof, but genuinely transformative for people, place and planet.”

Perth & Kinross Council’s commitment to managing carbon reduction change was central to the project’s success.

A groundbreaking procurement approach made carbon reduction a defining factor in contractor selection, helping the project to achieve a carbon saving of more than 51,000 tonnes of CO₂e compared to the tender baseline design, equivalent to a 45% reduction.

Despite the scale and complexity of the works, the project was delivered on time and within budget, with a gainshare of £875,000 secured.

Innovative use of early contractor involvement (ECI) allowed the council and its contractor, BAM UK & Ireland, to collaboratively reduce risk, unlock efficiencies, and embed long-term value into the design.

The social and economic legacy of the project is already being felt locally with an estimated £50 million in social and economic value generated. This is attributed to local spend, support for SMEs, education and training programmes, and a wide range of community projects.

The project also delivered extensive environmental enhancements, planting over 100,000 trees and shrubs, creating 13 hectares of new woodland, and supporting a regional rewilding initiative.

In addition to the project win, Perth & Kinross Council was recognised as runner-up in the NEC Client of the Year category.

The council’s leadership was praised for its collaborative ethos, its clear alignment with long-term climate and community goals, and its ability to deliver major infrastructure in a way that puts people and place first.

Councillor Grant Laing, Perth and Kinross Council leader, said: “This prestigious award is well deserved by the entire Cross Tay Link Road team.

“Destiny Bridge and the New Kingsway are already proving to be a great success, particularly during events such as Perth Racecourse fixture days.

“To complete on time and on budget, with a significant carbon reduction and exemplary procurement process is testament to the hard work and commitment by all involved. Congratulations and well done!”