The American Council of Engineering Companies of Wisconsin (ACEC WI) announced recently its juried selection of 2024 Engineering Excellence Award winners. The City of Middleton and MSA Professional Services, Inc. (MSA) were together selected to receive a State Finalist Award for the Pheasant Branch Creek Bridge and Trail Restoration project.

State Finalist Awards recognize projects that exemplify the skill and creativity of the engineering profession as chosen by a panel of judges from outside of the ACEC WI association membership. Projects are appraised and rated on a variety of merits including original or innovative application of new or existing techniques; future value to the engineering profession and perception by the public; social, economic and sustainable design considerations; complexity; and exceeding client/owner needs.

The Pheasant Branch Creek Bridge and Trail Restoration project in the City of Middleton reconstructed a popular 1.7-mile multiuse path and fortified six pedestrian bridges after a 1,000-year flood event in 2018 caused significant damage throughout the region. Design for the multiuse trail included site grading and realignment to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Wisconsin DOT Bicycle Facility Design standards. Other trail improvements included upgraded concrete fords at stream crossings for use by the City of Middleton to maintain sanitary system utilities and enhanced connector trails to local businesses, schools and neighborhoods.

MSA stormwater engineers utilized HEC-RAS floodplain modeling to develop designs for the replacement pedestrian bridges, which included reusing existing bridge superstructures and implementing a robust helical pile system with large concrete abutments set at a higher elevation than the prior structures — now above the 500-year flood mark. Restoration work was designed to more efficiently drain and direct stormwater runoff without causing erosive damage to corridor streambanks, trails or bridge structures.

The City of Middleton celebrated the grand re-opening of the Pheasant Branch Creek corridor on August 10, 2023, accompanied by an inaugural “First Run/Walk/Ride” and attendance from a variety of Middleton residents and dignitaries.

“MSA and the City of Middleton are honored to receive recognition for this important project,” remarked John Langhans, PE, vice president of the Land service line at MSA. “This project wasn’t just about rebuilding the Pheasant Branch Creek corridor, but also giving it a more resilient foundation for sustained success. We’re proud to be a part of the future of this beloved community centerpiece.”

All ACEC WI award winners were formally recognized at the Engineering Excellence Awards Banquet in at the American Club in Kohler, Wisconsin, on April 26, 2024.