Critical structural safety upgrades to the Centennial Bridge, an essential Quad Cities Mississippi River crossing, is one of nine projects competing in this year’s American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC Illinois) Engineering Works contest.
The competition invites the public to recognize and honor the most outstanding engineering project in the state and celebrate the engineering teams behind the design and construction. Voters are asked to consider the aesthetics, design, construction excellence and the social and economic impact of the projects in their communities, ACEC Illinois said. The voting period ends Feb. 27.
Quad Cities-based IMEG also is among the 2025 Engineering Works award choices for its work on the new Rockford Public Library. IMEG previously won the ACEC Illinois 2025 Engineering Excellence Honor Award for its design work on that project,
With the nine 2025 Engineering Works finalists selected, the public is encouraged to cast votes to decide who will receive the award at the ACEC Illinois Engineering Excellence Awards gala.
“Engineering firms across Illinois are designing and developing significant infrastructure projects that make a difference in our daily lives,” ACEC Illinois President and CEO Kevin Artl, said in a news release. “Working with state and local agencies, ACEC Illinois engineering firms have made possible crucial repairs to roadways and bridge projects, developed innovative solutions to waterway issues and created structures which will benefit communities for generations to come.”
The 2024 Engineering Works award went to Bowman Consulting Group, Ltd., H.W. Lochner, Inc., HDR Engineering, Inc., and Quigg Engineering, Inc. for their work on the Illinois Tollway’s Mile Long Bridge Project.
Centennial, IMEG on list
The 2025 Engineering Works nominees currently up for consideration represent the broad categories of transportation, waste and stormwater projects, building and technology, structural systems and special projects.
Among them is the Centennial Bridge project by WHKS and White Construction, LLC. According to WHKS, its engineers provided services for the design of a replacement expansion bearing and the bearing replacement procedure after cracks were identified in the existing expansion bearing rollers for the arch spans of the more than 84-year-old Centennial Bridge.
Also for that work, WHKS previously received a Grand Award, or First Place, in the Transportation Category from the 2025 ACEC of Iowa Engineering Excellence Competition.
Quad Citians who want to vote for the Centennial Bridge, an IMEG project in Rockford, or one of seven Engineering Works nominees can do so at https://www.acecileea.com/engineering-works/.
Voters also will find photographs of the projects to help pick those they think had the greatest impact on their community.
Who are the finalists?
The nine finalists, according to ACEC Illinois, are:
- Academy for Global Citizenship – V3 Companies. The project is a preeminent example of innovative thinking, sustainable engineering, and thoughtful community investment. It transformed a brownfield into a beacon of environmental responsibility. AGC saves 1 million gallons of water a year with its net-zero conditions, creates a net-positive water condition, and awaits recognition as the first Living Building in Illinois. It is the largest of its kind in the world.
- Addison Creek Reservoir – Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd. for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago. For communities along Addison Creek in suburban Chicago, flooding was an all too often occurrence. The MWRD sought to alleviate this issue and put less strain on the region’s floodwater infrastructure by constructing a massive reservoir that would fill with floodwater during heavy rain events – keeping it out of basements and off streets.
- Bob Michel Bridge Rehabilitation: Connecting Community – Ciorba Group, Inc. for Illinois Department of Transportation. The bridge is one of six crossing the Illinois River in the Peoria metro and connects Peoria and Tazewell counties. It is the only bridge that can accommodate pedestrian and bicyclist traffic between Peoria and East Peoria. The final design reconfigured the bridge to add a barrier-separated 14-foot-wide multi-use path to one side.
- Centennial Bridge Repair – WHKS for the Illinois Department of Transportation. WHKS completed the major bearing replacement project on the historic Centennial Bridge, ensuring the continued safe operation of this important community link between Rock Island and Davenport. The Centennial Bridge, which opened in 1940, is a vital crossing over the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa. However, age and wear had compromised the expansion bearings of the bridge’s tied arch spans, affecting the structure’s ability to expand and contract with temperature changes.
- Jackson Park Mobility Improvements Bid Package 1 – Ardmore Roderick for the Chicago Department of Transportation. Ardmore Roderick’s leadership addressed the infrastructural needs surrounding the future Obama Presidential Center. As the prime consultant for the $123 million initiative, it guided the transformation of this area into a safer, more accessible space for pedestrians and motorists alike, while maintaining the park’s historical significance.
- Longmeadow Parkway Improvements – Crawford, Murphy & Tilly; Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick; Thomas Engineering; BLA, Inc.; Burns & McDonnell; V3; CivilTech; Alfred Benesch; Clark Dietz; Huff & Huff for the Kane County Department of Transportation. The $117 million Longmeadow Parkway Corridor is one of the largest infrastructure projects ever undertaken by Kane County. This four-lane, 5.6-mile suburban highway features a four-span, 788-foot-long bridge that provides a crucial connection across the Fox River. Protecting endangered species, mitigating the impact to trees at a two-to-one replacement rate, and safely removing toxic soils are among environmental highlights.
- Marion Downtown Square – Horner & Shifrin, Inc. The Marion Downtown Square Streetscape Project delivered substantial enhancements to the built environment of Tower Square Plaza. Traffic flow has improved through a traditional roundabout, while safety has been bolstered by traffic calming measures. The parking areas have been enhanced with designated spaces for parking maneuvers, and pedestrian safety has been prioritized through new sidewalks, ADA ramps, high-visibility crosswalks, and Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) integrated in-pavement warning lights.
- New Rockford Public Library – IMEG. The library is a shining example of successful collaboration between architects, design teams, community stakeholders, and city leaders. This thoughtfully designed space serves as a haven for patrons — a welcoming gathering place that reflects the diverse needs of the Rockford community. The building’s innovative engineering and design overcame challenges such as contaminated soil and a high-water table while incorporating cutting-edge technologies to serve modern needs.
- Village of Carpentersville – Engineering Enterprises, Inc. The village is now a lead-free community after it removed all 400 remaining lead services at no cost to residents. The accomplishment highlights the village’s commitment to protecting both the physical and financial well-being of its residents.
