A FLOOD-beating project to raise a road by up to 1.2metres in places is in line for a national award.

The road to Muchelney has been praised as an “innovative engineering solution” after being shortlisted for the Municipal Journal Achievement Awards 2015.

A 500-metre stretch of road was raised after the village was cut-off for around ten weeks when all four of the roads in were submerged by floodwater early last year.

It is hoped scheme, which took six-months to complete after being started in September, will enable the village to remain reachable in the event of any future flooding.

The awards results will be announced at a ceremony in London on Thursday, June 18.

Paula Hewitt, Somerset County Council’s Director and Lead Commissioner for Economic and Community Infrastructure, said: “Being shortlisted for this award is fantastic. Everyone involved in Somerset’s 20 Year Flood Action Plan continue to work incredibly hard to reduce the risk and impact of flooding in Somerset and should be proud that a major part of that work is gaining recognition on a national level.

“I’m delighted that we are being recognised for demonstrating effective partnerships with the contractor, other agencies and in particular the community because that is what this scheme is essentially all about; trying to make sure the community in Muchelney is not cut off by flooding again.”

The project was funded by the Department for Transport and undertaken as part of the 20 Year Somerset Levels and Moors Flood Action Plan.

Simon White, Business Director at construction firm Skanska, said: “We are delighted that the hard work of the multi-agency team has been recognised in the short-listing for these high profile awards.

“At Skanska we are very proud to have constructed the raised road into Muchelney which will make real a difference to the local community.

"The approaches used in the delivery of this scheme meant the new road could be completed in less than half the time of a traditional project.

“Key to this success was the unique collaboration between the many organisations involved and close working with the community – its great the award judges have recognised this”