The American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida (ACEC-FL) recognized Orlando-based DRMP’s Suncoast Parkway 2 Project – from US 98 to south of West Grover Cleveland Boulevard – with a 2024 Engineering Excellence Honor Award.
The ACEC-FL Engineering Excellence Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the consulting engineering profession. This is the fourth award for the project, which also received the Florida Transportation Builders’ Association’s 2022 Rural Project of the Year, the 2022 Yearbook of Engineering Achievement Award from Zweig Group’s Civil & Structural Engineering Media, and the American Public Works Association (APWA) Florida Transportation Project of the Year.
The overall $135 million Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise project included the design of 13 miles of a 4-lane Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) facility that increased capacity to ease traffic congestion, improved safety, added interchanges for access, and included several wildlife crossings for safe passage of migratory animals and a multi-use trail for public recreation in Hernando and Citrus counties.
DRMP’s involvement in the project included the design of Segment 1, which encompasses 9 miles of roadway from south of US 98 to south of West Grover Cleveland Boulevard and was completed with construction in February 2022.
“We are honored and thrilled to receive the 2024 Engineering Excellence Honor Award from ACEC-FL for DRMP’s Suncoast Parkway 2 Project,” said Megan Mott, PE, who served as Post Design Project Manager. “This recognition reflects our commitment to overcoming challenges and contributing to the well-being of communities through innovative engineering solutions.
“It is a testament to the dedication of our team and the positive impact of our work in improving vehicular and pedestrian traffic flow, while focusing on safety and environmental considerations,” Mott continued. “This award inspires us to continue pushing the boundaries of excellence in engineering for the betterment of our communities.”
The DRMP project team overcame many challenges, including the 2008 economic recession, which halted the project, and Tropical Storm Debby in 2012 caused a portion of State Road 589 south of US 98 to flood, requiring a fast-tracked design of an emergency drainage system to withstand a 100-year rain event.
The design included 10 bridges and two interchanges, which improved accessibility, alleviated capacity, and provided mobility through northern Hernando County and southern Citrus County, creating regional connectivity in West Florida.
DRMP is headquartered in Orlando, Florida and is a multi-discipline firm serving clients in the public, private and industrial sectors in the development of infrastructure and has been in business since 1977. DRMP currently employs 600 professionals in 21 office locations spread strategically across the company’s service area, including Tampa, South Florida, North Florida and around the state and country, and is ranked among Engineering News-Record’s “Top 500 Design Firms” in the United States.
