The shortlist for this year's Highways Awards has been announced, ahead of the ceremony on Wednesday 18 October, after a record number of entries in the MVIS-sponsored Best Use of Technology Award.Winners of the event, formerly known as the Highways Magazine Excellence Awards will be revealed at a gala evening at the Lancaster London hosted by peripatetic presenter of ITV's recent Britain's Best Walks and Best Walks with a View travelogues, Julia Bradbury (pictured).Despite only being in its third year, the Technology Award received more entries than any other category.  The five shortlisted are:GaistPothole-SpotterCrown HighwaysFit2Go TPMS SystemsTarmacMorpeth Northern BypassTransport for London & Deloitte DigitalRODATElgin & TomTomPro Real-Time TrafficThe award is supported by Platinum sponsor MVIS.You can read all about the five contenders in the next issue of Smart Highways which is going to print this weekend.Other award nominations are:Most Innovative Highway Authority Scheme of the Year                       Sponsored by Tripod CrestKierM6 North East Spur & Rushall Canal Bridges Re-waterproofing Scheme London Borough of Waltham ForestEnjoy Waltham ForestKier ServicesS-SkillsBristol City Council and Alun Griffiths (Contractors) LtdSouth Bristol Link Site Safety Initiative AwardPlatinum sponsorship DynniqTarmacTarmac's 5+2 People and Plant SegregationBalfour Beatty VINCI(A)live on Site ' An Original Safety Awareness TrainingJackson Civil EngineeringHazard Awareness VideosWJ GroupWJ Guardian Road Stud Installation System            Road Safety Scheme of the Year                                                                      Sponsored by Keysoft SolutionsScotland TranServAnnual Moving Cursor ProgrammeKierWSPCarKraft Driver Improvement Scheme Award for Environmental Sustainability in the Highways Sector                     Platinum sponsorship Total BitumenAmeyStafford Western Access Route' Flood Compensation WorksMorgan SindallA1L2BR&W Civil EngineeringThe R&W Way                    IKOIKO Permatrack and the Carbon Offsetting Project   GRAHAM ConstructionMetrobus Contract D Road Marking Project of the Year                                                                   Sponsored by RSMAWJ Group, Kier & Highways EnglandM55/M6 High SpecificationRoad Marking UpgradeAmey & Transport ScotlandSolar Stud ProgrammeLancashire County CouncilBank Bridge Major Project Award                                                                               Sponsored by TarmacBalfour Beatty VINCIM5 Junctions 4a to 6' Smart Motorway ProgrammeAggregate Industries UK Ltdand Costain LtdA556 Knutsford to BowdonEnvironmental ImprovementMorgan SindallA1L2B (Robotic Construction)SkanskaM1 Junction 19 Highway Industry Product of the Year                                                          Platinum sponsorship Shell BitumenCarillion, Kier, Jacobs, WSP Brinckerhoff& Highways EnglandCathodic ProtectionTensarSpectra Pavement Optimisation System                 A-one, Tarmac & Highways EnglandUltigrip Team of the Year                                                                                       Platinum sponsorship MWay CommsKierSuffolk Highways Surface DressingDelivery TeamA-one+One Team ApproachA14 Integrated Delivery TeamProcurement & Supply Chain Team KierA38 Gravelly Hill Collaborative Delivery Team Highway Partnership Award                                    Sponsored by WJDorset County Council & Hanson UKThe Dorset Highways Strategic PartnershipWest Sussex County Council& Balfour BeattyFuture West Sussex Plan Suffolk County Council & KierHighway Services ContractsEssex County Council & Ringway JacobsEssex Highways                   Highways Maintenance Efficiency AwardSponsored by KierWest Sussex County Council& Balfour BeattyWest Sussex HighwaysA-one+ & Highways EnglandArea 12 ASC Programme Delivery                             Galliford TryUrban VisionThurrock CouncilStreet Light Replacement  Apprentice of the Year   Sponsored by the IHE's National Highway Engineering AcademyTarmacRichard DenmanAmeyBradley Richardson           Lancashire County CouncilCameron NewshamJudges Special Merit AwardSponsored by: Archway ProductsAwarded to any of the above shortlisted entries.To be announced on the nightThe Official Charity Partner for the Highways Awards gala evening will be the Lighthouse Club.For more information and to book your table visit http://www.highwaysawards.co.uk/reserve-your-table/.