Presented in association with Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Scotland at a special ceremony at the National Museum of Scotland, the award saw The Helix Development beat off competition from other well-known projects such as the SSE Hydro in Glasgow and the Kessock Bridge refurbishment in Inverness.

Transforming a 300-hectare site from disused scrubland into a modern urban green space connecting 26 communities with 27km of pathways, The Helix is completed by Andy Scott’s iconic Kelpie sculptures. The awe inspiring project comprises a new 800m access road and 75 space car park, a Greenspace Park; and a 1km extension to the Forth and Clyde canal – which included the creation of an inland lock and a tidal sea lock, as well as two mechanical moving bridges and two static bridges.

Since its opening in April 2014, The Helix Development has attracted an estimated 500,000 visitors, equivalent to between 3000 and 4000 a day.

Five runners up also received Commendations for outstanding engineering in this year’s Awards. They were:

Commenting on the Civil Engineering Award and Commendations’ selections, Convenor of the Awards Panel, Gordon Pomphrey said: “The Adjudication Panel had no hesitation in recommending The Helix Development for the overall Saltire Civil Engineering Award 2014. In particular I feel it merits award in the Project, Design & Construction Categories. The Project involved a wide range of stakeholders from its conception and throughout the design process and provided regeneration to the area resulting in tangible benefits to the environment, local community and economy.

“There is no doubt that the Kelpies have quickly become another iconic must see visitor attraction and will be an internationally recognised landmark for many years to come.”

“Congratulations must also go to the five commended projects, each one outstanding in what it has been able to achieve, brilliantly demonstrating civil engineering in Scotland at its best.”

Andy Scott said: “I’m blown away. It’s such an esteemed organisation and to be up against such incredible competition, I’m so thrilled on behalf of everybody involved, it’s been an amazing year.”

Jim Tough, executive director of the Saltire Society, added: “The Saltire Society Civil Engineering Awards has a longstanding tradition of recognising and celebrating the very best in Scottish Civil Engineering, and 2014 has been no exception.

“In what has been a hugely important year for Scotland we have seen engineering feats like SSE Hydro, Waverley Station and, of course, The Helix Development help to draw huge crowds from home and abroad cementing their legacy as icons of Scottish engineering.”