HOOD RIVER COUNTY, OR — WSP has been recognized with multiple honors in the 2026 Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) competition presented by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), led by an Honor Award for the Mitchell Point Tunnel project in Oregon.
The Mitchell Point Tunnel received the award in the Transportation category. The tunnel is a reconstructed pedestrian and bicycle passageway along the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail in Hood River County, Oregon.
The project transformed a long-lost mountainside vehicular tunnel — originally opened in 1915 and destroyed in the 1960s — into a 655-foot-long scenic trail passageway carved into the basalt cliffs of the Columbia River Gorge. Designed in coordination with the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration, the tunnel re-establishes a critical recreational link while preserving the area’s historic and natural character.
WSP led all design-related aspects of the project, including feasibility studies, alternatives analysis, detailed engineering, and construction support. The design incorporates five openings that provide natural light and views of the Columbia River, eliminating the need for artificial lighting and minimizing environmental impacts in a federally protected scenic area.
“The Mitchell Point Tunnel stands out not only for its engineering complexity, but for the care taken to honor history, landscape, and public experience,” said John Horne, Senior Vice President at WSP in the U.S., and Project Manager. “Being recognized by ACEC with an Honor Award is a tremendous acknowledgment of the team’s dedication and craftsmanship.”
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The ACEC EEA program honors projects that demonstrate exceptional engineering achievement, innovation, and benefits to society. Projects are evaluated on complexity, uniqueness, social and economic impact, and fulfillment of client needs. The awards were presented by ACEC at a gala ceremony in Washington, D.C.
