Amidon Avenue Bridge Reconstruction Project Wins Award from ACEC Kansas

(January 14, 2025) We were recently presented with an award from the American Council of Engineering Companies, Kansas Chapter, for our Amidon Avenue bridge project in Wichita, Kansas. The award was part of the 2024 Engineering Excellence Awards—which honors innovative and impactful projects—and our project won the Structural Systems category.

Built in 1964, the Amidon Avenue bridge over the Arkansas River had reached the end of its service life. Recognizing the need for action, the City of Wichita contracted with us for engineering design services on this structure that carries approximately 16,000 vehicles each day.

Challenges arose from the outset. Several large-scale construction projects were already scheduled to begin just after this one, causing concern that local contractors may not be available. To alleviate the issue, we proactively engaged with the construction community to advise them of this project, and several contractors ended up bidding on the work. Once construction began in the fall, the schedule was on a tight timeline to finish all work in the river channel before the spring spawning season of local fish. Also, when a bridge-mounted sludge line needed to be relocated underground, the materials needed were in short supply, threatening a delay. The team quickly found alternatives to keep the project on track.

Throughout the project, the team delivered several cost-effective solutions, saving the City millions of dollars. These savings were achieved through value engineering, pile optimization, public engagement, quality design, and the use of a seismic pile design, which garnered attention within the industry in Kansas. By opting for semi-integral abutments instead of traditional expansion joints to handle the bridge deck’s expansion and contraction, the team ensured long-term cost savings for the City by avoiding future costly repairs that often come with expansion joints.

Support from other city entities played a pivotal role. When construction disconnected a neighborhood from nearby businesses, Wichita Transit stepped in, providing residents 50,000 free rides along a new route. Similarly, when another neighborhood lost its connection to its local fire station, a temporary fire station was set up to maintain emergency services.

This project became a point of pride for the City. Residents frequently gathered on a nearby hill to watch the construction. Artwork designed by a local teacher and installed on the bridge’s lighting towers added to the sense of civic pride and community connection.

In the end, the project was a success, and the client was thrilled with the outcome. “We had a great team on this project,” said Brad Shores, JEO structural senior project manager. “The Amidon Avenue bridge is another chapter in the legacy of iconic bridges in Wichita, and we’re honored to have been part of that legacy.”