LEXINGTON, KY — HDR projects in Kentucky and Ohio received 2022 Engineering Excellence Awards from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC). The state-winning projects advanced to the national ACEC Engineering Excellence Awards competition, which culminates with the announcement of national award winners at the Engineering Excellence Awards Gala on May 24. The gala, which recognizes the year’s most remarkable engineering achievements, is part of the 2022 ACEC Annual Conference.

The Blue Grass Airport Runway 4-22 Rehabilitation in Lexington, Kentucky, won the Honor Award. Blue Grass Airport saved time and future maintenance during its major runway rehabilitation. The airport, with assistance from HDR, opted to close its only commercial runway for a weekend and pave it all at once. It is a strategic decision that was aimed at improving safety and efficiency for this project that takes place approximately every 15 years.

By compressing the work into one weekend, a more continuously paved runway was possible, with only four cold joints. This will extend the overall life of the pavement, requiring less maintenance and improving safety. The $16.2-million project will improve the safety, performance, and operational efficiency of the airport’s runway pavement while also improving the energy efficiency and durability of airfield lighting systems.

The other project receiving an ACEC Engineering Excellence Award is Ross County SR 207 in Ohio. The project received an Honor Award.