DELAND, Fla. – The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has been honored by the Florida Transportation Builders Association (FTBA) with a 2023 Best in Construction Award for the Wekiva Parkway section that includes new bridges over the Wekiva River.
The 6-mile Wekiva Parkway stretch – from the State Road (S.R.) 429 interchange near Camp Challenge Road in Lake County to Longwood Markham Road in Seminole County – was selected in the Design-Build Award category. The department was honored along with the contractor, Superior Construction Company Southeast, and the construction oversight firm, RS&H, Inc.
The Wekiva Parkway is completing Central Florida’s beltway, while helping to protect the natural resources surrounding the Wekiva River, a National Wild and Scenic River and Florida Outstanding Waterway. This section features many of the environmental protections that make the parkway unique, including several wildlife crossing bridges meant to help keep motorists and animals safe in the Wekiva River Basin. The crossings provide nearly 1.5 miles of space for animals to travel under the roadway between the Seminole State Forest and Rock Springs Run State Reserve – about 100 times more space than existed prior to the project.
The project employed “top-down construction” among several innovative building methods, as equipment was prohibited from entering the protected Wekiva River. Form travelers – equipment that moves from the top of newly built bridge columns to shape concrete – were used to build the concrete segments for the three bridges, which completely span the river. The project began in 2017 and opened to traffic in 2022.
The Best in Construction awards are meant to highlight those who worked on the most innovative, complex, and impactful projects around the state each year. The award will be presented during the FTBA Annual Convention Awards Breakfast, on Friday, August 4, 2023, in Boca Raton.
To learn more about the Wekiva Parkway project, please visit wekivaparkway.com.
Media inquiries should be directed to the FDOT District Five Public Information Office at FDOT-D5COMM@dot.state.fl.us or by phone at 386-943-5593.
ABOUT FTBA: For more than 85 years, FTBA has served as Florida’s voice for the road and bridge industry, representing hundreds of members of the transportation construction industry. FTBA’s goal is to foster public understanding and support for an efficient, effective and totally integrated transportation system including air, highway, local streets and roads, railroads, and public mass transit systems through promotion of the industry. FTBA continually investigates the new technology, equipment, techniques, and systems for planning, financing, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating transportation systems in the State of Florida.
For more information, visit www.FTBA.com.
PRESS RELEASES - Wekiva Parkway Among Top Seven FDOT Projects Recognized by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida
For Immediate Release June 2, 2023 Contact: FDOT Communications Office (850) 414-4590
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Seven Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) projects were selected for Outstanding Project Awards at the 2023 American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida (ACEC Florida) Transportation Conference held from May 31 – June 1, 2023, in Orlando, FL. Annually, the ACEC Florida recognizes the outstanding achievements of its members in carrying out Florida transportation studies and projects.
“Congratulations to Florida engineering firms and Florida Department of Transportation Districts for their outstanding achievement in the design and construction of Florida roads, bridges, intersections, expressways and highways,” said Allen Douglas, Executive Director, American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida. “Your innovation in transportation excellence will help ensure residents and visitors can safely travel to their destination.”
FDOT Secretary Jared W. Perdue, P.E. added: “This diverse selection of projects recognized by the ACEC-FL showcases the multitude of ways FDOT is meeting the needs of the communities we serve. The Department is honored to receive these recognitions from the ACEC-FL. The project teams selected are more than deserving of these accolades, and FDOT will continue to deliver high quality results for the people of Florida.”
ACEC Florida Outstanding Project Award winners include:
Outstanding Major Project:
Wekiva Parkway Section 6
• FDOT District 5
• Design Consultant – WGI, Inc.
• CEI Consultant – RS&H, Inc.
Outstanding Design-Build:
I-4 Ultimate Improvement Project
• FDOT District 5
• Design Consultant – HDR/Jacobs Design Joint Venture
• CEI Consultant – HNTB
Outstanding Roadway Project:
SR 390 from Baldwin Road to Jenks Avenue Capacity Project
• FDOT District 3
• Design Consultant – DRMP, Inc.
• CEI Consultant – RS&H, Inc.
Outstanding Bridge Project:
SR 15 (US 17) 4-Laning over Dunns Creek
• FDOT District 2
• Design Consultant – Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.
• CEI Consultant – England-Thims & Miller, Inc.
Outstanding PD&E/Planning Project:
Venetian Causeway Bridges PD&E Study
• FDOT District 6
• Design Consultant – EAC Consulting, Inc.
Outstanding Environmental Project - (2)
SR 4 Bridge Replacement over Blackwater River
• FDOT District 3
• Design Consultant – Florida Bridge and Transportation, Inc.
• CEI Consultant – Eisman & Russo
Outstanding Special Project:
West Cervantes Street Pedestrian Safety Improvements
• FDOT District 3
• Design Consultant – HDR Engineering, Inc.
• CEI Consultant – Mehta & Associates, Inc.
Nominations were submitted from projects in FDOT’s seven districts, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise and the Central Office. The awards committee is comprised of
ACEC Florida and FDOT representatives.
ABOUT ACEC-FL: The American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida is the voice of engineering in the Sunshine State. ACEC Florida brings together more than 300 leading engineering companies, representing more than 20,000 employees, who are working to bring the extraordinary to the everyday lives of Floridians. Visit us at www.acecfl.org.
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