RS&H Earns Two 2026 ACEC Florida Outstanding Project Awards for Transformative Transportation Work With FDOT

[Jacksonville, FLA] RS&H, working in collaboration with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and dedicated groups of teaming partners, has earned two 2026 ACEC Florida Outstanding Project Awards from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida (ACEC Florida). The honors recognize the firm’s role in delivering two complex transportation projects that strengthen connectivity, safety and mobility across the state. 

The awards span two distinct categories. The FDOT District One I-75 at U.S. 301 Interchange Design-Build received the award for Outstanding Roadway. The FDOT District Two First Coast Expressway (SR 23) – North Clay Segment was recognized as an Outstanding Major Project. Together, the projects reflect the shared vision of RS&H, FDOT and their teaming partners to move communities forward through thoughtful, resilient infrastructure. 

Outstanding Roadway: I-75 at U.S. 301 Interchange Design-Build

The I-75 at U.S. 301 Interchange project reconfigured a major regional gateway in FDOT District One, modernizing one of the area’s most critical connection points. The team widened I-75 to expand capacity and constructed new ramp bridges over the Manatee River, each designed to accommodate future growth. 

A collaborative design-build approach allowed RS&H, FDOT and the project’s teaming partners to integrate design and construction from the start. This unified delivery model kept the work efficient and adaptable. Throughout construction, the team maintained traffic on this heavily traveled corridor, minimizing disruption for the people and businesses that depend on it every day. 

Outstanding Major Project: First Coast Expressway (SR 23) – North Clay Segment

In FDOT District Two, the First Coast Expressway (SR 23) – North Clay Segment delivered more than 11 miles of new tolled expressway, opening a vital new corridor for Northeast Florida; providing critical connectivity from the region to the Middleburg and Asbury Lake communities, giving travelers a faster, more reliable route. 

The expressway eases congestion across the region, supports economic development by improving access to growing communities, and strengthens hurricane evacuation capabilities when residents need them most. It stands as a long-term investment in the region’s mobility and resilience. 

A Partnership Built on Shared Purpose 

Both projects reflect the strength of the partnership between RS&H, FDOT and the teaming partner firms that contributed their expertise at every phase. 

“These awards reflect what sets RS&H apart and our ability to bring together the right expertise, collaborate with our clients and partners, and deliver solutions,” said Chris Jackson, PE, senior vice president and a division leader of the Infrastructure Business Unit at RS&H. 

The recognition from ACEC Florida affirms the technical excellence and collaborative spirit that defined both efforts, and it celebrates what teams can accomplish when they work as one toward a common goal.