MnSPE Annual Project Awards recognize projects and teams that advance the three elements of the Professional Engineer’s Mission: to protect the public’s safety, protect the public’s health, and support the general public’s wellbeing.
MnSPE Past President Jennifer Lowry, PE, and Vice President Rachel Scheu, PE, are shown with Project Award winner. Sombatek’s Jenny Sorvari, PE, accepted the MnSPE Public Safety Award for the TH61 Withers Harbor Bridge and Roadway Reconstruction in Red Wing.
MnSPE 2026 Public Safety Project of the Year
Sambatak received the award for Public Safety related to Vehicular and Pedestrian Transportation for work on the TH 61 Withers Harbor Bridge Replacement and Road Reconstruction near Red Wing.
The project transformed a critical crossing over Hay Creek into a modern multimodal corridor that connects residents, trails, and neighborhoods. The original 1952 Withers Harbor Bridge had reached the end of its service life with structural deterioration, steep embankments, and aging infrastructure, creating safety and mobility concerns. Sambatek led roadway, bridge approach, and multi-use trail design for the project, coordinating closely with MnDOT and the City of Red Wing.
The completed project is more than an infrastructure replacement: it is a revitalized public space that invites community interaction. It includes ADA-compliant connections, improved lighting, and safe access for motorists, pedestrians, trail users, and cyclists. The project demonstrates how thoughtful design can strengthen both mobility and placemaking.
The MnSPE 2026 Public Health Project of the Year
The City of Brooklyn Center and Bolton & Menk received the Award for rehabilitating the I-694 Water Main Crossing Project: a critical 24-inch spun-steel trunk water main that diagonally crosses the combined 1-94/1-694/ Minnesota 100/Minnesota 252 freeway corridor. The corridor is one of the metro’s most constrained utility locations. The original main predated today’s interstate system and was later lowered and offset when the freeway was constructed. The result: a 45-degree crossing and four significant bends beneath a corridor flanked by retaining and sound walls. The freeway section sits about 15 feet below city streets, spanning about 370 feet from roadway edge to roadway edge. In February 2023, the main broke, forcing water to the surface and freezing on the Minnesota 252 ramp, creating an immediate crash hazard. The repair required about 30 hours of coordinated effort (city crews, a specialty welder, and a contractor), underscoring the end-of-life condition of the pipe and the public safety risks of another failure.
The City launched a project to restore long-term reliability and explicitly reduce the risk of freeway flooding/icing and closures from a future break.
The project restoring long-term reliability resulted in:
- Increased motorist safety at the interchange by preventing the recurrence of freeway flooding/icing, protecting thousands of drivers.
- Reliable Water Service and Fire Protection: daily supply and fire flow performance for three neighborhoods by renewing the city’s primary conveyance from the water treatment plant
- Reduced Emergency Response Burden: the renewed main reduces the likelihood of high-risk repairs under the freeway
- Service Continuing During Construction: CIPP allowed the team to maintain service operations (with limited shutdown windows coordinated with operations), preserving pressure and fire-flow readiness while the main was lined and cured.
Brian Simmons, PE, Matt Bauman, PE, and Kristina Brierley, Bolton & Menk, and Michael Weber, Public Utility Supervisor for the City of Brooklyn Center, were recognized at the Annual Meeting.
MnSPE Past President Jennifer Lowry, PE, and Vice President Rachel Scheu, PE, are shown with Tim Lamkin, Jr. PE, from Bolton and Menk. Lamkin accepted the General Public Welfare Award for the Gull River Crossing Project in East Gull Lake.
The MnSPE 2026 General Public Welfare Project of the Year
Bolton & Menk, Cass County, and the city of East Gull Lake received the 2026 award for General Public Welfare for their work on the Gull River Crossing Project.
The project enhanced transportation infrastructure and community safety in Cass County. The project addressed longstanding concerns about pedestrian and vehicle safety, environmental preservation, and cultural heritage protection.
The connection between County Road 105 and County Highway 70 had relied on a narrow one-lane bridge over the Gull River Dam within a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) recreational Area.
The road hand functioned that way for more than a century. Recognizing the limitations and risks posed by existing infrastructure, Cass County took the lead in reimagining the critical route.
Partnering with the City of East Gull Lake, USACE, and Bolton & Menk, the county developed an innovative solution that balances functionality with both environmental and cultural sensitivity. A new roadway alignment was proposed, offering a safe and efficient pathway while minimizing impact on wetlands, floodplains, and culturally significant sites.
The project design underwent rigorous environmental documentation, federal and state agency reviews, and consultations with SHPO and tribal representatives to ensure regulatory standards were compliant.
The final design incorporates a modern roadway, two roundabouts, a new bridge, and a pedestrian trail connection. This comprehensive approach enhances safety for drivers and pedestrians and preserves the area’s natural ecosystem and cultural heritage. The Gull River Crossing project illustrates a harmonious blend of progress and preservation.
Thanks to collaborative planning and commitment from all stakeholders, Cass County’s infrastructure now meets the needs of its residents while safeguarding the region’s unique environmental and cultural assets. The Gull River Crossing stands as a shining example of community-focused problem- solving and innovation, delivering lasting benefits for future generations.
Team members working on this award-winning project included: Andy Pelikan, PE,; Ashleigh Rosa, PE; Chris Chromy, PE; Daniel Franta, PE; Josh Stier, PE; Justin Schmidt, PE; Kasey Burns BPE; Mike Larson, PE; Roberta Cronquist, PE; Ryan Evans, PE; Thomas Doherty; PE, Tim Lamkin, Jr., PE; Zachary Parsons, PE.
