Sixteen HNTB projects earn state ACEC Engineering Excellence Awards

Twelve projects will move on to ACEC’s national awards competition

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (January 11, 2023) HNTB received awards for 16 projects at American Council of Engineering Companies’ state Engineering Excellence Awards competitions for 2023. The Engineering Excellence Awards competition is one of the industry’s most prestigious, recognizing engineering firms for projects that demonstrate an exceptional degree of innovation, complexity, achievement and value.

Twelve of HNTB’s Engineering Excellence Award winning projects will compete in ACEC’s national awards competition which is open to the top winning projects from the state competitions. The national winners, 8 Grand and 16 Honors, will be chosen by a panel of judges in March and recognized at the Engineering Excellence Awards Dinner and Gala Award Program in Washington, D.C., in June.

HNTB’s state winners are:

ACEC California

*Sixth Street Viaduct Replacement Project – Honor Award
The Sixth Street Viaduct, a world-class icon and multimodal viaduct embodies a series of technical and material innovations that set a new standard for public safety and seismic resiliency. More a destination than a pathway, it serves as a defining monument for City of Los Angeles and a Boyle Heights landmark. HNTB was engineer and architect of record.

Los Angeles Complete Streets Program – Merit Award
The Complete Streets program extends the service life of 22 miles of streets and sidewalks and more than 600 curb ramps of six Los Angeles Corridors, enhancing pedestrian and traffic safety. It serves as a model project, providing a completed case study for both the engineering profession and civic stakeholders.

ACEC Florida

*I-4 Ultimate Improvement Project – Grand Award
The I-4 Ultimate project is the reconstruction and widening of 21 miles of I-4 from west of Kirkman Road in Orange County, Florida through downtown Orlando to east of State Road 434 in Seminole County to enhance safety and relieve congestion in one of the most heavily populated areas of the state. HNTB provided construction oversight services.

Tampa International Airport Blue Express Curbside – Honor Award
Tampa International Airport’s new Blue Express Curbside, designed for faster curb-to-gate transitions, is the first “express curbside” at a U.S. airport. The Blue Express Curbside reduces traffic congestions, increases pedestrian safety and doubles the airport’s curbside capacity. HNTB was architect and engineer of record.

ACEC Georgia

Windy Hill Road – Terrell Mill Road Connector – Merit Award
This new roadway, constructed in a challenging area with many neighboring properties and environmentally sensitive areas, provides an additional north-south alternative to Powers Ferry Road on the east side of I-75 and US 41 to the west of I-75, decreasing congestion. An additional .8-mile stretch of the Bob Callan multiuse path connects residents to the Chattahoochee River parks. HNTB provided project engineering services.

ACEC Kansas

*Advancing Kansas’ Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Vision – Innovative and Outstanding Engineering in Studies, Research, and Consulting Engineering Services
The Advancing Kansas’ CAV Vision project lays the groundwork for the implementation of CAV in Kansas through the statewide CAV vision and implantation plan and the approved 2022 U.S. Department of Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment Grant. HNTB was the lead engineering and planning consultant for the Kansas Department of Transportation.

*I-35 & 119th Street Interchange Reconfiguration – Innovative and Outstanding Engineering in Transportation
The I-35 and 119th Interchange Reconfiguration converted the existing diamond interchange to a diverging diamond interchange, added left and right turn lanes for the I-35 exit rams and added additional lanes on 119th Street. The changes increased system capacity, improved safety, minimized impacts to properties, created reserve capacity and provided the lowest construction cost by minimizing bridge work. HNTB was the lead consultant.

ACEC Maine

*I-295 Over Veranda Street Bridge Replacement Project – Special Recognition for Public Engagement and Innovative Technology
The Maine Department of Transportation was able to completely replace the aging, deteriorated I-295 over Veranda Street Bridge in its entirety over one weekend using accelerated bridge construction (ABC). I-295 over Veranda Street Bride project became the largest, fastest and most ambitious ABC project in MaineDOT’s history. HNTB was the lead designer.

ACEC Metropolitan Washington and ACEC Virginia

*North Glebe Road over Pimmit Run – Bridge Rehabilitation – Honor Award
Utilizing ABC technologies, the North Glebe Road Over Pimmit Run Bridge project replaced the entire bridge superstructure with precast units within a 17-day full closure of Rte. 120, significantly minimizing impacts to the traveling public. The project addressed rehabilitation concerns and provided safety improvements for pedestrians, cyclists and commuters. HNTB was the lead designer.

ACEC Minnesota

*METRO Orange Line BRT – Grand Award
Recognized as Metro Transit’s second highway bus rapid transit (BRT) system, located in the region’s busiest commuter corridor, the design of the METRO Orange Line serves as the model for BRT standards in Minneapolis. The system spans 17 miles along the 1-35W corridor, connecting riders from downtown Minneapolis through Richfield, Bloomington and Burnsville. HNTB was the prime design consultant.

ACEC New Jersey

*Emergency Repairs TPK Interchange 7 Ramp over Route 206 – Honor Award
US Route 206 SB and Interchange 7 were closed when an over-height tractor trailer struck Turnpike Bridge No. 53.28B damaging four of the eight girders of the bridge span. The project team mobilized quickly to re-open the route for traffic and recommend repairs using readily available materials to accelerate fabrication of a new superstructure a week ahead of schedule and under budget. HNTB provided inspection and design services.

ACEC New York

*VN-84AX Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of the Upper Level Approach at the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge –Diamond Award
The VN-84AX Reconstruction coupled structural solutions with a highly strategic approach to work zone traffic control and construction staging to minimize disruptions to the traveling public. The project replaced 225,000 square feet of bridge deck; reconstructed the anchorage span superstructure; upgraded seismic performance; implemented two-way cashless tolling; and improved lighting, drainage and sandpipes. HNTB was the lead designer and engineer of record.

ACEC Ohio

*Opportunity Corridor –Outstanding Achievement Award
Opportunity Corridor improved access and mobility between the Cleveland freeway system and local neighborhoods within a historically underserved, economically depressed area. The project team conducted a robust community engagement plan to gather feedback and gain the community’s trust to deliver a new urban boulevard supporting economic development while improving access for cars, bicycles and pedestrians. HNTB was the prime consultant.

ACEC Texas

*FM 3237 at FM 150 Roundabout – Gold Medal
The FM3237 at FM 150 Roundabout project reconstructed the T-intersection to create a roundabout intersection to help reduce potential traffic conflicts and accidents and improve traffic flow. Dark Sky compliant lights reduce the glare and the amount of light reflecting off the roadway to preserve stargazing visibility while lessening the impact to wildlife habitats. HNTB was the general engineering consultant.

US 281 North, Segment 1, (San Antonio, TX) – Silver Medal
The expansion of US 281 North included new High Occupancy Vehicle or HOV lanes, a direct connection to park and ride facilities, bike and pedestrian accommodations and new flyover ramps for better driver connections. These improvements helped ease congestion and reduce travel delays while enhancing connectivity and safety. HNTB prepared plans, specifications and estimates for the project. ACEC Wisconsin

ACEC Wisconsin

*WisDOT Madison Beltline Flex Lane – Best of State
The WisDOT Madison Beltline Flex Lane, located between Whitney Way exit and I-39/90 interchange, is a safe and cost-effective solution to address recurring congestion during the Beltline’s busiest times. The flex lane, Wisconsin’s first, uses the inside median shoulder as an additional travel lane during peak traffic periods, typically morning and afternoon rush hours and for city-wide special events. HNTB was the lead designer.

 

* Project included in national ACEC competition