CHICAGO, IL — HNTB Corporation recently joined clients and partners in celebrating project collaborations that earned recognition at the American Council of Engineering Companies’ annual Engineering Excellence Awards Gala, held virtually this year. The winning projects reflect outstanding engineering achievement that strengthen the communities they serve.

One HNTB project in the Construction Digest area was recognized as a Grand award winner: Lakefront Trail Pedestrian Bridge in Chicago. HNTB designed a 1,750-foot flyover that gives users of the Lakefront Trail a safe thoroughfare through one of the most congested points in the trail, Navy Pier, the top tourist attraction in the city. The design of the 16-foot-wide flyover utilizes a central steel spine and a longitudinal spine-rib support system that allows the bridge to curve up, down, and around.

Torsion is addressed through supporting columns topped with a saddle-like configuration that transitions the load downward. Specially designed lugs were created to link expansion joints to provide torsional continuity and allow for temperature-driven expansion and contraction. They also support any torque coming through the joint from imbalances that may occur on the surface, or vibrations from asymmetrical loading.

An LED lighting system illuminates the flyover, and a stainless-steel curb cover extends along the deck edges to create an even more uniform shape and appearance.

“HNTB is extremely proud to have played a role in award-winning projects. Our firm works collaboratively every day with our clients and partners to deliver infrastructure solutions that solve challenging and complex problems,” said John Barton, PE, Senior Vice President for HNTB and National Practice Group Leader. “For all of us at the firm, and especially the teams and clients responsible for delivering these impressive projects, ACEC’s industry-wide recognition is high praise and a meaningful honor.”