Shaping Our Communities: Celebrating our ACEC Nebraska and Kansas Award Wins
It’s Engineers Week 2026, a time to recognize the limitless possibilities in engineering. To celebrate, we’re highlighting our projects that recently received ACEC Engineering Excellence Awards and Public Improvement Awards. These awards celebrate engineering achievements that demonstrate exceptional creativity, complexity, and value to the communities we serve.
North Fork
RIverfront DevelopmenT
Engineering Excellence Award
For decades, the North Fork Elkhorn River sat overlooked in Norfolk, Nebraska. A waterway that once powered mills, hosted swimmers, and anchored Johnson Park gradually became disconnected from the community due to flooding concerns and aging, unsafe infrastructure.
In 2017, the City of Norfolk reignited a long-held vision to restore this vital connection. Partnering with JEO Consulting Group, Riverwise Engineering, and Big Muddy Workshop, the City set out to transform the riverfront into a vibrant regional destination that honors the river’s history while creating new opportunities for recreation, safety, and environmental health.
The project began with rebuilding critical infrastructure to reconnect residents to the river and Johnson Park. This included replacing the aging First Street bridge and improving adjacent roadways to better link downtown Norfolk with the park. Within the river, the deteriorating mill dam—a long–time public safety concern—was removed and replaced with seven engineered whitewater drop structures. These features stabilized the channel, restored fish passage, and created Nebraska’s first whitewater and river surfing experience.
Restored riverbanks and upgraded trails have helped transform the riverfront into an accessible, inclusive community space. A reimagined Johnson Park now offers a splash pad, amphitheater, festival grounds, and amenities designed for use in every season.
The project’s major innovation was the team’s ability to repurpose the historic U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood diversion system to help regulate flows through the new whitewater features. By combining advanced hydraulic modeling with legacy infrastructure, the team developed a system that maintains consistent recreational water levels while supporting ecological function. Delivering this work required exceptional precision—using GPS-guided equipment, hand-placed rockwork, and specialized construction techniques—all while navigating complex permitting, funding, and environmental requirements in a tight urban corridor.
Since opening in 2024, the riverfront’s impact has been immediate and far-reaching. More than 70,000 people visited in the first year, with thousands kayaking, surfing, wading, and exploring the revitalized shoreline. Local businesses, outfitters, and downtown partners have seen increased activity, while families, students, and visitors are rediscovering Johnson Park as a year-round gathering place. Historic elements—including mill features and relocated bridge and rail structures—were thoughtfully preserved, ensuring the river’s legacy remains visible and meaningful.
The North Fork Riverfront development demonstrates what is possible when engineering, environmental restoration, and community partnerships come together around a shared vision. By reconnecting Norfolk to the river that shaped its history, the project delivers lasting ecological, recreational, cultural, and economic benefits—and serves as a model for communities seeking to reinvest in and revitalize their waterways.
Capehart Road Reconstruction and Construction Services
Engineering Excellence Award
The City of Gretna contracted with JEO Consulting Group (JEO) to provide engineering design services for Capehart Road between U.S. Highway 6 (Highway 6) and the eastern edge of GXP. This segment serves as a primary access route supporting the park. In addition to design services, JEO provided construction administration and observation for the GXP-supported portion of the project, as well as for an adjacent segment of roadway being constructed concurrently by Sarpy County. The county’s portion, designed by Lamp Rynearson, supports incoming residential development.
Thiele Geotech, Inc. provided geotechnical engineering and materials testing services; Midwest Right of Way Services, Inc. managed right-of-way acquisition; Olmsted & Perry Consulting Engineers, Inc. completed the traffic signal design; and Graham Construction, Inc. served as the general contractor for both roadway segments.
Project funding was a collaborative effort among the City of Gretna, Sarpy County, and the developer of an adjacent subdivision. To effectively manage the complexities of blending public and private funding sources, the JEO team worked closely with all stakeholders to develop an interlocal agreement that clearly defined cost-sharing terms and responsibilities.
The first two phases of construction were completed prior to GXP’s grand opening in September 2023. Construction then progressed eastward toward the edge of GXP, where the roadway tied into the Sarpy County segment. Coordinating separate design teams, phased construction plans, coordinate systems, and multiple clients required detailed planning and consistent communication.
Today, Capehart Road features enhanced safety improvements and is well-positioned to support continued growth and development in the area.
David City Water Treatment
Plant Upgrades
Engineering Excellence Award
The David City Water Treatment Plant Upgrades project demonstrates how engineering innovation and community-focused design transformed a 40-year-old facility into a state-of-the-art system prepared for future growth. Confronted with aging infrastructure, labor-intensive operations, and water-quality challenges, David City partnered with JEO Consulting Group to implement Nebraska’s first municipal Closed Circuit Reverse Osmosis (CCRO) system.
Project improvements included rehabilitation of the aerators and gravity filters; construction of a new intermediate clearwell and pump building; cleaning and upgrades to the final clearwell; improvements to the backwash tank; enhancements to the chemical feed systems; installation of a new security system; and comprehensive building upgrades, including roof replacement, paint, flooring, HVAC, lighting, and plumbing.
The advanced CCRO process achieves an 85–92% water recovery rate, compared to approximately 75% for traditional reverse osmosis systems. This increased efficiency reduces waste and alleviates strain on the wastewater treatment plant, which was operating near capacity. In addition, a degassifier minimizes the need for chemicals used in pH adjustment and is projected to pay for itself in less than one year. Automated controls and remote monitoring allow operators to manage the system more efficiently, reducing labor demands and minimizing the risk of downtime.
Despite limited site space, the project team successfully integrated new and existing systems within the original facility footprint while maintaining full plant operations throughout construction. Careful phasing, detailed sequencing, and daily coordination among the contractor, engineering team, and City staff ensured uninterrupted water service.
Funded through the Nebraska State Revolving Fund (SRF) Program — which included more than $6.3 million in loan forgiveness — the project extends the plant’s service life by more than 20 years, enhances water quality, and positions the City to support future growth. Public outreach efforts and facility tours further highlighted the project’s impact, demonstrating how engineering innovation protects public health and promotes long-term sustainability.
Metropolitan Ave. at I-635 Bridge Replacement
Engineering Excellence Award
Located in Kansas City, Kansas, the Metropolitan Avenue bridge carries approximately 10,400 vehicles per day across I-635 and serves as a vital connection within the Argentine neighborhood. Originally constructed 45 years ago as a five-lane structure to accommodate anticipated growth that never materialized, the bridge had experienced significant deterioration. Trapped deicing salts and water gradually compromised the structure from within, leading to internal degradation. Recognizing that the bridge had reached the end of its service life, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) contracted with JEO to provide survey and engineering design services for its replacement.
The project was fast-tracked from the outset. The nearby U.S. 69 (18th Street) viaduct over the Kansas River is scheduled for replacement, with I-635 designated as the detour route. To prevent detoured traffic from traveling through an active construction zone, the Metropolitan Avenue bridge needed to be replaced in advance of that project.
Although Metropolitan Avenue operates as a two-lane roadway, the previous five-lane bridge configuration created driver confusion and contributed to crashes. The new bridge was designed to align with the existing roadway configuration, incorporating clearly defined turn lanes that improve driver expectations and safety.
While initially scoped solely as a bridge replacement, the project team evaluated the broader interchange to identify additional traffic and pedestrian safety improvements that could be incorporated during construction. Several enhancements were integrated without affecting the accelerated schedule or significantly increasing costs. These improvements include upgraded traffic signals to enhance traffic flow; a new shared-use pedestrian and bicycle path across the bridge; improved pedestrian connectivity throughout the interchange, including links to existing sidewalks and trails for a continuous network; and new interchange lighting.
The new bridge and upgraded interchange enhance safety, improve mobility, and provide greater convenience for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists, ensuring the corridor will effectively serve the community for decades to come.
Wakarusa Drive, Clinton ParkWay to Research Park Way
Public Improvement Award
This project completed a years-long effort to reconstruct Wakarusa Drive and served as the final piece needed to connect Wakarusa to Clinton Parkway. With the corridor in deteriorated condition—characterized by aging pavement, potholes, and crumbling asphalt—reconstruction was the most cost-effective long-term solution. This investment not only enhanced overall public safety but also improved ride quality for vehicles along the corridor.
Public engagement played an important role in project development. During the information-gathering phase, some residents with properties adjacent to Wakarusa expressed concerns about backyard privacy once the roadway was widened and the multi-use path constructed. To address this, a privacy fence was constructed south of 18th Street, placed on a short wall to maximize height and maintain privacy.
Key Complete Streets elements were incorporated into the project, and one business access and one roadway were realigned to improve user safety. Additionally, though none existed previously, right- and left-turn lanes were installed near the intersection with Clinton Parkway to enhance safety and facilitate access to nearby businesses.
A new 10-foot multi-use path was constructed on both sides of Wakarusa, elevated above traffic and connected the larger city-wide active transportation network.
A roundabout at Wakarusa and 18th Street was selected over a traffic signal to maintain continuous traffic flow, improve safety, and reduce vehicle emissions. Complementary features included ADA-compliant pedestrian signals, raised crosswalks, speed humps, and rectangular rapid flashing beacons at arterial intersections. Enhanced lighting at the roundabout further improved visibility while providing aesthetic benefits.