The overpass has won the excellence award from the Victorian chapter of the Concrete Institute of Australia, and will now go in to the running for the national prize. 

Project director of the broad Western Highway project Mick Mccarthy said the recognition of the lengths they went to for the sensitive build was important. 

“It’s great recognition for the team, who supported a goodf community outcome,” he said. 

The concrete panels highlighted in the prize were custom made and delicate compared to the standard prefabricated panels used in similar projects. 

“There was a lot of trial and error (in making them) and a lot of care in shifting the panels,” Mr Mccarthy said. 

The two red coloured retaining walls on each side of the structure have been carefully imprinted to replicate the surface of oak leaves, like those from the trees in the avenue, and panels in the walls contain recessed text displaying cities where battles were fought and the names of units in which Ballarat men and women. 

Mr Mccarthy thanked the Arch of Victory/Avenue of Honour committee for their input in the process. 

“For the design we really engaged with the committee, who were great,” he said. 

“To open this facility (before) the centenary was a real achievement.” 

The overpass also now has a footpath where people can walk and read the names on the special panelling. 

The opening of the connection in April was a big moment, which Minister for Veterans Affairs Michael Ronaldson made clear. 

“This is a special day for us,” he said.

“Today, we are again honouring the Avenue of Honour. To those from outside the region this might have seemed like just a divided road, but to us it was a road that divided our memory and divided the honour of those who served.” 

“Now, it is something we can be immensely proud of.”

The national excellence award winners will be announced at a gala dinner on September 1. 

With Alicia Thomas