Louisiana, Missouri’s Champ Clark Mississippi River Bridge Replacement Named Best Construction Project Of 2020 By National Trade Association

ORLANDO, Fla. (Sept. 22, 2021) — Louisiana, Mo.’s Champ Clark Mississippi River Bridge replacement was the most significant construction project of 2020, the Associated General Contractors of America recently announced. As a result, the project’s contractor, Massman Construction Co., received the association’s Construction Risk Partners Build America Grand Award, as well as the award for the best design-build civil and a Marvin M. Black Partnering Excellence Merit award.

“These awards are a much-deserved tip of the hat to exceptional construction projects from the past year and the outstanding firms that completed them,” said Bob Lanham, the association’s president and president of Williams Brothers Construction Co., Inc. in Houston, Texas.  “The award recipients have demonstrated skill, vision and execution, representing the best our industry has to offer.” 

Massman Construction Co.’s project to replace an obsolete bridge over the Mississippi River demonstrates the value of experience, expertise and design build knowledge. The firm’s use of precast concrete elements accelerated the construction of the bridge while also eliminating potential risks. Despite working through the second-highest flood stage on record, Massman completed the bridge ahead of schedule and under budget.   

In addition to the Champ Clark project, Massman received the Construction Risk Partners Build America Award for best highway and transportation renovation project under $10 million for the Norfolk Southern Railroad Grand River Bridge Emergency Repair.  In late 2019, flood stage waters and debris caused by record level run-off in the Missouri River Basin destroyed Norfolk Southern Railroad’s rail line and bridge spanning the Grand River. As an important part of the railroad’s network, it was critical that the bridge be rebuilt as soon as possible. Despite strong river currents and extraordinary levels of river debris, Massman was able to develop and implement a rapid solution. Because of their efforts, traffic resumed a mere 27 days after the failure occurred.  

“On behalf of Construction Risk Partners, we are proud to have the opportunity each year to honor the most innovative and prestigious projects in our country. This year in particular, each of the nominees and winners are especially worthy of our admiration and praise,” said Joe Charczenko of Construction Risk Partners. “Despite unprecedented circumstances, these teams demonstrated a level of commitment and perseverance that few can match. Thank you to our industry’s best and brightest for continuing to raise the bar.”  

The Construction Risk Partners Build America Awards highlight the nation’s most significant construction projects. A panel of judges, representing all areas of construction, evaluated an impressive number of submissions this year, assessing each project’s complexity, use of innovative construction techniques and client satisfaction, among other criteria.  The awards, which were announced during the association’s annual convention in Orlando, are considered by many to be the most prestigious recognition of construction accomplishments in the U.S.