Rotherwas Ribbon

It takes a lot to hold up a bulldozer, but near Hereford works on a new road project are being held up by a serpent. Or at least that is what it might be.

Nobody knew the Rotherwas Ribbon existed until earlier this year, but archaeologists working ahead of the bulldozers on a new road project have found a new archaeological site. The Ribbon seems to be nothing like existing UK sites and because only part of it is exposed, we don't know what future excavations will reveal. It must be an exciting time for archaeologists waiting to see what else might turn up at this site.


View Larger Map

For those involved in developing infrastructure it is more complex. I am excited by this discovery like archaeologists, but events like this always concern me. It is human nature to personalise events and infrastructure projects are no different; people associate infrastructure projects with the people who design them, build them and those who procure them. If a project is seen in a bad light, the people who build it are also often seen in a bad light. Even worse the people who build it can be seen as evil people intent on destruction.

This is not helped because of the negative image that infrastructure projects often have in countries where there is a good existing infrastructure. In these countries the effect of a project can often be small, with the public finding it difficult to engage with it. There is little passion for the project, but in contrast there might be a lot of passion about some of the perceived negative consequences. People fight to protect things that they feel might be damaged by a project; culture, the environment, tranquility, history. And that fight is often vocal, makes good stories for the media and draws in the public.

The negative perception of engineers is important, but it is not what concerns me when problems like the Rotherwas Ribbon occur is not how the public sees it, but how those involved in the project manage it. Often projects are well managed and come out with a good outcome, but things do go wrong. It is these projects that do go wrong which are the most damaging both for for the perception of the industry, and for the legacy that we leave behind. Good decisions have to made to avoid costing the taxpayer, the environment and our cultural heritage both now and in the future.

I wish those working on the project well. I have no doubt that hard decisions are being made by everyone on the project and that there will be a good outcome. I look forward to the day that I can go an visit the Rotherwas Ribbon in an environment that befits such an important piece of archaeology.