FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cardno TBE Receives Two Federal Highway
Utilities Leadership Awards

05/06/2009

CLEARWATER, FL – Cardno TBE headquartered in Clearwater, FL, was awarded two Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Excellence in Utility Relocation and Accommodation Awards at the American Association of Street and Highway Officials 2009 Right-of-Way and Utilities Conference in Oklahoma City. The Construction Management Award was presented jointly to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (DOT), Flatiron Construction Corporation, and Cardno TBE for the Interstate 35 Bridge over the Mississippi River.  Nick Zembillas, Senior Vice President and Principal of Cardno TBE, was awarded the Utilities Leadership Award.

For the I-35 Bridge project the Cardno TBE project team helped the MDOT act swiftly in replacing the collapsed I-35 Bridge three months ahead of schedule. In presenting this award, the FHWA's Jeffrey Zaharewicz said, "The speed at which the Minnesota DOT had to replace the fallen I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River posed a significant utility relocation challenge. The contractor was required to hold a time-critical utility kick-off meeting, create preliminary and final designs concurrent with the agreement writing, and provide preliminary design review to quickly obtain permit acceptance. Additionally, the contractor was required to engage multiple stakeholders regarding utility accommodation policy. The unique collaborative approach used on this project allowed it to be completed 3 months ahead of schedule." 

Upon presenting Zembillas’ Utilities Leadership Award, the FHWA acknowledged that Zembillas is recognized as an innovator in the highway/utilities field and is greatly responsible for the growth of subsurface utility engineering practice to its present prominence in the design and construction industry. Zembillas’ diligent efforts helped to introduce to many state departments of transportation the value of subsurface utility engineering in terms of reducing costs during the design stage of projects and of protecting property and life during construction.

According to the FHWA web site, as the demands on the surface transportation system become increasingly complex, it is extremely important to consider the needs of and coordinate closely with utility companies beginning at the initial planning phases and continuing through to the construction and maintenance of transportation projects. The Excellence in Utility Relocation and Accommodation awards program is conducted biennially by the FHWA to honor outstanding achievement in the utility arena. The goal of this program is to showcase exemplary projects, programs, initiatives and practices that successfully integrate the consideration of utilities in the planning, design, construction and maintenance of transportation facilities.

Cardno TBE offers a full range of consulting, design, engineering and construction services, including civil, environmental, transportation planning and design, right-of-way acquisition/relocation, subsurface utility engineering, surveying and mapping, 3-D underground imaging, and utility coordination. Cardno TBE currently ranks #6 on Trenchless Technology’s Top 50 Design Firms (2008) and #180on Engineering News-Record’s (ENR) List of Top 500 Design Firms (2009). Cardno TBE has received numerous industry and civic awards, including the 2004 Large Business of the Year Award from the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Institute of Consulting Engineers (FICE) 2005 Grand Award for its Clearwater Northwest Fire Station brownfields redevelopment project. Cardno TBE is headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, and has more than 40 offices serving clients in the United States, Canada, China and Puerto Rico. Visit us at www.CardnoTBE.com.