Raytown Road over Tributary to Longview Lake recognized by ACEC/MO
GRANDVIEW, MO—The Raytown Road over Tributary to Longview Lake project earned an Honor Award in the Transportation Category as part of the 2026 American Council of Engineering Companies of Missouri (ACEC/MO) Engineering Excellence Awards. The project was recognized for addressing failing infrastructure beneath a heavily traveled corridor and delivering a long-term solution that enhances safety, protects natural resources and improves access for motorists and pedestrians.
Two large, corrugated metal pipe structures carrying Raytown Road and a Jackson County trail had reached the end of their service lives and created a hydraulic bottleneck that contributed to channel instability. Rather than replacing the pipes with similar structures, the project team pursued a more durable solution by constructing twin, single-span prestressed I-girder bridges—an uncommon approach for a roadway of this scale. The design improved hydraulic capacity, provided a more sustainable infrastructure solution and reimagined the entire project site. Additionally, the project team added a prefabricated pedestrian bridge to enhance an adjacent lakeside trail, integrating both transportation and recreational benefits into a single project.
As the prime design consultant, Benesch led the planning, hydraulic analysis, structural design, agency coordination and traffic management strategy for the bridge replacement. The project team supported the City of Grandview from initial conceptual evaluations through final design and delivery, including construction inspection services, ensuring the selected solution met long-term performance, budget and community goals.
Advanced hydraulic modeling played a central role in the design and permitting strategy. The team secured a No Rise certificate by demonstrating that the new structures would not increase water surface elevations or impact Longview Lake, despite the significant change in channel geometry.
During construction, heavy rainfall undermined the phased roadway and created an unexpected challenge. Although a full closure of Raytown Road was not the preferred traffic control strategy, the adjustment allowed the contractor to accelerate construction and ultimately deliver the project several months ahead of schedule.
The project was officially recognized on March 5 at the ACEC/MO Awards Banquet in St. Louis, Missouri.
