The 2023 Engineering Excellence Awards Gala (EEA), hosted by The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), was an exciting annual event celebrating the remarkable achievements of engineering firms around the world, as well as the impressive projects that they have taken part in.

In preparation of the highly anticipated annual event, distinguished judges from various sectors carefully evaluate projects from throughout the year, considering aspects such as uniqueness, innovative applications, future value to the engineering profession, complexity, and more.

Members of WGI’s team were honored to be recognized at the recent gala held in Washington, D.C., as one of the 2023 National Recognition Award Winners. The prestigious award marks the third award received thus far for the renowned Wekiva Parkway Section 6 project, also marking the 29th award that WGI has received for its exceptional design-build transportation projects.

The award proudly acknowledges the Wekiva Parkway Section 6 as one of the top engineering accomplishments in the nation for 2023.

About Wekiva Parkway, Section 6

Wekiva Parkway, Section 6, extended a beltway that increases the capacity between Lake County and Seminole County, thus removing traffic from the congested I-4 corridor and improving safety. It also provides an important transportation facility that minimizes impacts on the Wekiva River Basin resources, maintains wildlife habitat connectivity, and reduces vehicle-wildlife conflicts.

This design-build project constructed 6.85 miles of four-lane toll roads largely along the existing SR 46 corridor from west of Old McDonald Road to just west of Longwood-Markham Rd. It includes a parallel service road for local travel, a multi-use trail facility, electronic tolling gantries, side-street construction, ITS, an entrance road for Rock Springs Run State Reserve Park, and three signature segmental bridges over the Wekiva River, as well as nine wildlife bridges to allow animals to pass safely between the Seminole State Forest and Rock Springs Run State Reserve. The most visible aspect of the Wekiva River Crossing, the three signature segmental bridges (6,000 feet of bridge deck), carries the Wekiva Parkway (SR 429) and a service road/shared-use path over the Wekiva River. The project also reconfigured portions of CR 46A and SR 46 to serve as local roads through the use of cul-de-sacs and access drives.

In total, the Wekiva Parkway, Section 6 project has 18 bridges. The team demolished portions of CR 46A and SR 46 to establish natural conditions that allow wildlife connectivity. The design-build team also used thirteen alternative technical concepts to improve the preliminary design to reduce impacts on traffic during construction; improve constructability and efficiency to expedite construction; reduce environmental impacts; and enhance safety without compromising environmental and project requirements and commitments.

Check out the video below and visit our website today to learn more about this award-winning project:

• Wekiva Parkway Segment 6 Project Overview
• Project Sheet: Wekiva Parkway (SR 429), Section 6

Award-Winning Service at Your Fingertips

Contact WGI’s team, and let’s discuss the added value our team of experienced professionals can offer to help ensure your next project is an award winner!