Friday October 9th 2026
(left to right) Glen Henderson, Project Manager for Balfour Beatty, BBC Scotland’s Laura Miller who presented the award, and Peter Forsyth, East Lothian Council’s Project Manager in Growth and Sustainability who led the project’s delivery for the council.
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
The creation of a new bridge and diversionary road replacing the Markle Level Crossing near East Linton scooped a top prize at this year’s Scottish Civil Engineering Awards.
East Lothian Council and infrastructure firm Balfour Beatty collected the accolade in the Rail Infrastructure Project category.
The awards are widely recognised as the highest honour for engineering excellence in the built environment in Scotland.
The council acted as project managers for the works which were undertaken by Balfour Beatty.
Peter Forsyth, who led its delivery for the council, and Glen Henderson, Project Manager for Balfour Beatty, were presented with the award at a ceremony held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre last month.
The works, which were fully funded by Transport Scotland, saw the construction of a single- span bridge to replace the level crossing along with the construction of a 1km diversionary road at Markle Steading.
Markle Level Crossing had been one of only two remaining level crossings on Scotland’s East Coast Main Line. Its closure removed the risk to road users and the national rail network. The new bridge benefitted pedestrians and road traffic by removing delays caused by lowered level crossing barriers when trains are approaching.
The project incorporated 70,000 tonnes of locally sourced materials and delivered a shared-use path providing safe access for pedestrians, cyclists and equestrian users.
A sustainable drainage system, including three attenuation ponds, was introduced to manage stormwater and reduce flood risk, alongside landscaping that enhanced biodiversity and integrated the structure into its rural setting.
At the awards, the project was praised for “demonstrating how civil engineering can improve safety, connectivity and the quality of life for local communities”.
Peter Forsyth, the council’s Project Manager in Growth and Sustainability, said: “This was an excellent example of a ‘Team Scotland’ delivery model, with the council working closely in partnership with Transport Scotland, Network Rail and Balfour Beatty.
“Within the council, this complex construction project was supported across our services, including Procurement, Legal, Planning, Roads and Estates.
“We’re pleased the award recognised the benefits brought to the community which was our key focus throughout the project.”
Keith Macdonald, Project Director, Balfour Beatty's Regional Scotland business, said: “We’re proud to see the Markle Level Crossing project recognised for engineering excellence, and this award is testament to the collaboration and commitment of everyone involved. Together with our partners, we’ve delivered safer, more reliable crossing that will benefit the local community for years to come.”
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