I found out about Dorset Highways (DH) through a newspaper where I read about the Weymouth Relief Road and London 2012 Olympic Games which caught my attention to work with DH.  I was always interested in highways and bridge structures and, on further research on the website, I found out that the placement package offered by DH would provide a great opportunity to work in this field.

I attended high school in India where I studied A levels in maths, physics and chemistry. I have completed two years of undergraduate civil and structural engineering with first class at Coventry University.  I had a year placement with DH and will be finishing my degree in 2011. I am working towards qualification as chartered engineer with ICE and DH staff has supported in numerous ways with my ICE report.

I worked in the highway design and traffic signal departments. This team is primarily responsible for the design and administration of the installation of traffic signals which often includes signs and street lighting.  I had training with many different teams within DH which included highway maintenance, structures and recently Highway Improvements.  I have been able to contribute on the design work of the Weymouth Olympics Transport Package. I have also visited sites and carried out surveying.  My duties included:

• preliminary and detailed 2D civil and signal layout plans
• statutory procedures and processes involved in a project
• Statutory Undertakers enquiries
• compiling accident reports and design option report
• estimating the costs of a project

My last task was designing a new footway in Gillingham and working on traffic calming measures at Queens Avenue, Dorchester.

I most enjoyed working in a team where I can express my ideas and apply them to different designs. My colleagues have helped with my ICE and University reports and I am hoping that I will be able to use the knowledge I have gained from working with DH to achieve a First Class degree.