Leon County Takes Home Four APWA Project of the Year Awards
Leon County Public Works was recognized with four Project of the Year Awards at the American Public Works Association (APWA) Big Bend Branch 18th Annual Awards Banquet. The awards honor outstanding public works projects that demonstrate excellence in management, administration, and technical achievement.
“These awards reflect Leon County’s commitment to investing in infrastructure that improves the quality of life for our residents,” said Leon County Commission Chairman Christian Caban. “From transforming a major transportation corridor to protecting our natural springs, each of these projects demonstrates what we can accomplish when we prioritize our community’s greatest needs.”
“Leon County Public Works continues to deliver projects that make a real difference in our community,” said Leon County Administrator Vincent S. Long. “These awards recognize the dedication and expertise of our staff and partners in delivering projects on time, within budget, and with the highest standards of quality.”
The four award-winning projects span multiple categories and reflect the breadth of Leon County’s public works mission:
Magnolia Drive Multi-Use Trail Project Phase II
Category: Transportation | Division: $5 Million – $25 Million
The Magnolia Drive Multi-Use Trail Project Phase II transformed a key pedestrian and bicycle corridor from Pontiac Drive to Diamond Street. The project was a combined effort between Leon County Government and Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency. Improvements included complete roadway reconstruction, a new enclosed storm sewer system, upgraded water and sanitary sewer infrastructure, installation of 8-foot concrete multi-use trails, a 4-foot landscape buffer with irrigation, and conversion of overhead electric utilities to underground. The project also featured specialty lighting, urban tree planting, and bus shelter pads. Despite significant coordination challenges between multiple contractors and a severe rain event during construction, the project was completed within the approved schedule with no major safety incidents.
Leon County Main Library Second Floor Renovations
Category: Beautification | Division: $2 Million - $5 million
The Leon County Main Library Second Floor Renovations project represents the first phase of Leon County’s Essential Libraries Initiative (ELI), a re-envisioning of the public library system to address changing community needs. The project renovated more than 30,000 square feet on the second floor of the LeRoy Collins Leon County Main Public Library in downtown Tallahassee. The renovation created 15 multi-use meeting rooms and gathering spaces, a CAT Excavator simulator lab, a soundproof recording studio, a Career Corner workforce development hub, a Learning Commons for adult education, an Ancestry Alcove for family history research, updated study areas and mobile information desks. Public access to library collections was maintained throughout construction. The project was completed in September 2025 despite supply chain delays caused by Hurricane Helene.
Centerville Road Turn Lane Improvement at Harpers Ferry Drive
Category: Transportation | Division: $2 Million - $5 Million
This project responded to residents’ concerns about frequent rear-end crashes on Centerville Road by constructing a new eastbound left turn lane at Harpers Ferry Drive and improving westbound sight distance. Located within a designated Canopy Road corridor, the design carefully minimized impacts to the existing tree canopy. The project was completed while maintaining traffic flow using an innovative system of three temporary portable traffic control signals, a notable achievement given the 13,000 vehicles that travel the corridor daily. An adjacent stormwater treatment facility was modified to capture increased runoff volume, and the roadway has been fully operational since June 2025.
Northeast Lake Munson Septic to Sewer Conversion Project
Category: Best Performance | Division: $5 Million – $25 Million
The Northeast Lake Munson Septic to Sewer Conversion Project is a major environmental initiative that provided central sewer service availability to 233 properties including removal of 179 septic systems in the Primary Springs Protection Zone to protect water quality in Wakulla Springs and surrounding natural resources. The project constructed 4.4 miles of gravity sewer, two lift stations, 7,740 linear feet of roadway paving, and replacement of existing water mains. Funded in part by a $7.5 million grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the project overcame significant challenges including karst terrain, a groundwater table just two feet below the surface, and approximately 70 percent of the project area located within the FEMA 100-year floodplain. The team employed innovative Electro Resistivity Imaging (ERI) technology for geotechnical analysis to safely navigate these conditions.
The APWA Big Bend Branch Project of the Year Awards recognize outstanding public works projects in the categories of Structures, Transportation, Environment, Historical Restoration/Preservation, and Disaster or Emergency Construction Repair. Projects are evaluated on construction management techniques, safety performance, community relations, environmental awareness, and unusual accomplishments under adverse conditions.
For more information, contact Brent Pell, Director of Public Works, at PellB@LeonCountyFL.gov / 850-606-1500, or Mathieu Cavell, Leon County Community and Media Relations, at 850-606-5300 / CMR@LeonCountyFL.gov.
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