The American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota (ACEC/MN) has recognized LHB, Inc. and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) for outstanding work on the reconstruction of Trunk Highway 61 (TH 61) through Grand Marais, MN.
Representatives from LHB and MnDOT’s District 1 office accepted a 2023 ACEC/MN Engineering Excellence Grand Award for the project at an awards gala held at the Fillmore Theater in Minneapolis on Friday, February 24.
MnDOT’s District 1 office completed roadway reconstruction on TH 61 in Grand Marais in 2021. Designed by LHB, the project was finished both under budget and eight months ahead of schedule.
TH 61 is the key regional corridor connecting communities along Lake Superior’s North Shore and serves as a vital economic link for businesses, industry, and tourism to northern Minnesota and Canada. MnDOT’s Grand Marais project included reconstruction and preservation of an 11.3-mile-long section through the city’s downtown. A 3/4-mile stretch was updated to include new storm sewers, ADA compliant pedestrian and bike facilities, pedestrian bump-outs, clearly marked parking areas, and narrowed shoulders and driving lanes to calm traffic.
“The rapport and trust we built with our state, local, and subconsultant partners allowed us to forge a successful project that met not only the functional goals, but also aesthetic standards and community expectations,” Brad Scott, vice president of LHB’s Public Works, Structures & Survey group, said. “We’re honored to get recognition for our work on this project, a design that truly showcases the best solutions our team had to offer.”
LHB previously received Grand Awards for the firm’s upgrade of Superior Street in Duluth, MN, and its rehabilitation of TH 61 in Grand Portage, MN.
About MnDOT District 1
With offices in Duluth and Virginia, MN, MnDOT District 1 serves eight counties: Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Pine, and St. Louis. District 1 represents one-fourth of the state’s total land area. Several major industries rely on the transportation system managed and maintained by District 1 staff.
About ACEC/MN
The American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota (ACEC/MN) is the leading business practice and policy advocate for consulting engineering firms in Minnesota. Formed in 1949, ACEC/MN represents 125 member firms and provides services to all segments of society, including federal, state, and local governments, private industry, and the public.
