LAST year’s resurfacing of Wellington’s Chelston to M5 motorway link road and the junction 26 roundabout has won national and international recognition.

The three-month project was carried out by Somerset Council’s infrastructure programmes group (IPG), with delivery partners AECOM and Heidelberg Materials.

The 50-year-old road, known locally as the ‘concrete carriageway’, was closed in June, 2025, and reopened at the beginning of September after a tarmac surface was laid, three weeks earlier than anticipated.

Now, the project partners are celebrating after securing top honours at a prestigious industry awards event held in London.

The project was named winner of the ‘Project Excellence and Innovation Award’ at the NEC Contracts annual awards 2026, recognising ‘outstanding collaboration and innovation in infrastructure delivery’.

It faced international competition and was selected ahead of a global shortlist which included the £5 billion trunk road T4 project in Sha Tin, Hong Kong, which took second place, and HMP Millsike, a £500 million development recognised as the UK’s first all-electric prison, which came in third.

The award celebrates projects which demonstrate exceptional performance in collaboration, innovation, delivery excellence, and outcomes, showcasing what can be achieved through strong partnerships and a shared commitment to delivering better infrastructure.

The recognition follows success the previous evening at the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) Awards 2026, where Somerset Council’s IPG was commended in the Team of the Year category, highlighting the team’s wider impact, leadership and consistent delivery excellence.

A council spokesperson said: “Since its establishment in 2015, IPG has delivered more than £110 million of strategically significant highway infrastructure, building a strong reputation for delivering complex projects safely, efficiently, and to a high standard through collaborative working, effective governance and technical excellence.

“The award-winning M5 Junction 26 Chelston Link has become a nationally recognised example of modern infrastructure delivery, demonstrating how innovation, sustainability, and partnership can deliver meaningful benefits for communities, improve connectivity, and support economic growth.”

Somerset executive Cllr Richard Wilkins said: “To receive this level of recognition across two major industry awards in the same week is an exceptional achievement and reflects the talent, commitment, and collaborative spirit of our IPG and project partners.

“Winning the NEC Contracts project excellence and innovation award against such strong international competition shows that Somerset is delivering infrastructure projects that stand alongside some of the very best in the world.

“The M5 Junction 26 project demonstrates what can be achieved when local authorities and industry partners work together with ambition, innovation, and a clear focus on outcomes for local communities.

“I would like to thank everybody involved for their dedication and contribution to this success.”

The latest accolade builds on a growing list of recognition for the project.

Earlier this year, it was shortlisted for the best highways decarbonisation award at the Decarbonising Transport Awards 2026, acknowledging its contribution to reducing carbon and embedding sustainable delivery practices.

The project was also commended in the innovation award category at the CIHT South West Awards 2026, recognising its innovative approach to project delivery and outcomes.