Two CHA Bridge Projects Win ACEC/MA Engineering Excellence Awards

CHA Consulting, Inc. (CHA) has been honored with two Bronze Awards at the 2025 ACEC Massachusetts Engineering Excellence Awards for the Champeaux Road Bridge Replacement and the Buckland/Charlemont Bridge Replacement. These accolades reflect CHA’s dedication to delivering innovative infrastructure solutions that enhance safety, sustainability, and community well-being.

The Champeaux Road Bridge over Long Pond in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, required a full replacement after decades of structural decline since its construction in 1938. CHA designed a modern integral abutment bridge supported by micropiles, a minimally invasive structural solution that improves flood resilience and reduces maintenance by eliminating expansion joints. The project also included a structural monitoring plan to gather data for future bridge design standards. Completed a year ahead of schedule, the new bridge improves safety and minimizes its environmental footprint.

At the Buckland/Charlemont town line, CHA replaced the deck of a 1950s-era bridge, transforming it into a safer and more pedestrian-friendly structure. The design added two sidewalks supported by additional steel beams, aligning with Massachusetts’s Complete Streets initiative. Lightweight cellular foam concrete filled hollow areas under approach spans to reduce maintenance demands, while strengthened steel and scour protection measures improve long-term stability. The updated bridge enhances pedestrian safety while meeting modern infrastructure standards.

The ACEC Massachusetts Engineering Excellence Awards recognize groundbreaking projects that demonstrate technical ingenuity and a commitment to enhancing the built environment. CHA’s award-winning projects will be celebrated alongside other exemplary achievements at the ACEC/MA Engineering Excellence Awards Gala on April 7, 2025, at the Boston Renaissance Hotel.

About ACEC Massachusetts

The American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts (ACEC/MA) represents over 120 engineering, architectural, and land surveying firms committed to advancing the state’s infrastructure. Its annual awards program celebrates projects that exemplify innovation, complexity, and societal impact. Learn more at ACEC/MA’s official website.