Reza Akhavan, PE, is HNTB’s office leader in Denver, Colorado. A veteran engineer and transportation expert, Akhavan brings more than 30 years of experience in planning, design, construction, operations, maintenance, and program management of transportation projects.
Akhavan leads a team of transportation infrastructure professionals to meet client needs throughout the Denver region. He works alongside the City and County of Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, Denver International Airport, the Regional Transportation District, and the Colorado Department of Transportation. His responsibilities include ensuring technical excellence for HNTB’s many projects and providing guidance on major programs.
Akhavan joined HNTB in August 2020 as transportation practice leader in Colorado. He previously worked in leadership roles with other engineering consulting firms and spent 27 years with CDOT in engineering roles and eventually as transportation director. At CDOT, Akhavan led the transportation program for the Denver metropolitan area. He supervised the region’s funding and oversaw teams that completed many of the region’s largest projects, including the I-25 Valley Highway environmental impact statement and reconstruction, U.S. 36 express lanes, and the I-225 highway expansion and light rail extension. Akhavan oversaw CDOT’s first design-build project in the early ‘90s at the I-225 and I-70 interchange. His advocacy of alternative delivery in his region led to CDOT’s first CM/GC delivery method for the Pecos Street Bridge replacement over I-70.
