Primera is honored and excited to announce that two of our projects have been awarded American Council for Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC-IL) Engineering Excellence Awards for 2024! Our Lewis University Airport (LOT) Traffic Control Tower Site Development and our Central Avenue Bridge projects received the Special Achievement Award, which is given to projects worthy of special recognition of the engineer and the owner/client for achieving engineering excellence. ACEC-IL will be presenting a total of 38 awards at their annual Engineering Excellence Awards Gala in February.

The Engineering Excellence Awards is an annual competition that recognizes projects of engineering achievement by Illinois consulting engineering firms. Entries are judged on the basis of engineering excellence, the degree to which the client’s needs are met, and the benefits to the public welfare and private practice of engineering. Primera is proud to have played significant roles in the recognized projects as indicated below.

The LOT Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) Site Development project addressed the long-term need for the addition of a control tower and accompanying site development at the airport, including an access road to the tower, an adjacent parking lot, and the corresponding utilities required. As one of the busiest large corporate reliever airports in the metropolitan Chicago airport system and the only one without an ATCT, this development was essential in increasing operational efficiency and reinforcing safety to the highest standard. Primera supported the airport in early funding initiatives and stakeholder identification and consultation. We then helped in determining the best site and facilitated an environmental assessment, including approval by the Federal Aviation Administration. Additionally, Primera completed all preliminary design, design, bidding services, and a full range of field and office construction management phase services for construction on the total site development project. You can read more about the project and the ribbon cutting ceremony here.

The Central Avenue Bridge project was initiated to increase safety for motor vehicles and reduce future operating costs by lengthening the useful life of the bridge. These improvements were especially important given that the bridge connects several villages and provides access to Midway International Airport, as well as many industrial and manufacturing sites. Updates to the Central Avenue Bridge were critical in maintaining the area’s ability to support regional commerce and freight activity. It was also important to provide a long-term solution rather than the very costly expense of doing maintenance repairs on the bridge deck yearly. Primera provided design services for both the bridge and roadway renovations. Through structural inspections and reports, preparation of superstructure, substructure, Maintenance of Traffic, erosion control, and lighting plans, as well as an array of coordination efforts, Primera and the team were able to successfully rehabilitate the bridge and the surrounding roadway.

Primera would like to congratulate all the winners of the Engineering Excellence Awards. To find more information on ACEC-IL and their awards programs, visit: www.acecil.org.