Just as Don Conaway helped blaze the trail of partnership among ODOT and Ohio’s heavy/highway construction contractors, previous winning project teams in the Partnering Awards that bear his name have built the path being celebrated this year for the 14th time.
Past winners of the Don Conaway Partnering Awards have demonstrated proactive approaches in accomplishing project-specific goals; utilized dispute resolution processes to solve issues so projects remained on track; and more. Previous winning project teams also set the bar for the 2026 winners who were announced on the first day of the Don Conaway Conference on March 3.
As in previous years, partnering winners were named in five categories: Local-Let Local Public Agency (LPA) Projects, Projects Under $5 Million, Projects $5 Million to $20 Million, Projects More than $20 Million and Individual Partnering Awards. This year there was also an Honorable Mention project.
In addition to the mentioned criteria, the ODOT/OCA Partnering Steering Committee used submitted original minutes from partnering meetings and correspondence letters from project stakeholders complimenting the partnering process in selecting winning projects.
Here are 2026 Don Conaway Partnering Award’s winning teams and projects:
LPA
Cuyahoga County North Main Street Bridge Replacement in Village of Chagrin Falls
Contractor: Great Lakes Construction Co.
Project owner: Village of Chagrin Falls & ODOT District 12
The Great Lakes Construction Co. and ODOT District 12, working with HDR Engineering Inc., Village of Chagrin Falls and Cuyahoga County, successfully replaced a historical bridge situated in the middle of the Village of Chagrin Falls.
In replacing and realigning the North Main Street Bridge, a structure built in the 1850s, the project team constructed a new two-span arch bridge encasing the original structure. The new structure consisted of pre-cast arches and a 10-foot, cast-in-place span.
Several challenges were overcome by the project team: The bridge remained open to vehicle and pedestrian traffic during construction to support downtown merchants; construction of the village’s largest infrastructure piece is atop two waterfalls and between historic buildings; one of the bridge’s arches required unique engineering and formwork; and more. Challenges were overcome through seamless communication, as one project member remarked that people came to the table as problem solvers and not finger pointers.
“Throughout the project it was extremely successful,” said Village of Chagrin Falls Chief Administrative Officer Robert Jamieson. “We had top professionals in every single angle that made a lasting impression in a remarkable achievement here in Chagrin Falls.”
By besting four other nominated projects in the LPA Category, this was Great Lakes Construction’s third overall Don Conaway Partnering Award.
Under $5 Million
S.R. 120 Bridge Replacement in Metamora
Contractor: Vernon Nagel Inc.
ODOT: District 2
Despite a variety of project challenges, Vernon Nagel Inc. and ODOT District 2 teamed to complete the $3.9-million project within its 120-day timeline and save nearly $1 million in the process.
Tasked with replacing the State Route 120 Bridge in Fulton County’s Village of Metamora, the project team revised the original plan’s design of a three-span box culvert bridge – which required deep footers and an abundance of pile driving and sheeting. Noting how pile driving could adversely affect nearby 100-year-old structures – possibly leading to long-term delays – Vernon Nagel made a value engineering proposal (VEP). The VEP utilized friction-drilled shafts, abutments and a box beam structure – saving $1 million and allowing for the project’s four-month completion.
Along with maintaining local traffic demands from nearby state routes, the project team fulfilled contract requirements to demolition an adjacent building and overcame expired waterway permits and discrepancies in original plans that resulted in a work shutdown.
Despite these obstacles, Vernon Nagel and District 2 were commended for working with local merchants to establish scheduling during the bridge’s closure. One merchant remarked, “I think ODOT and Nagel are a great team. The guys were easy to work with; very accommodating.”
“We all just wanted to work together and have a successful project, and I think that’s what we ended up having,” said Vernon Nagel Project Manager Jason Rickey.
Going against four other nominations, this was Vernon Nagel’s second consecutive and third Don Conaway Partnering Award overall in the Under $5 million Project Category.
$5 Million to $20 Million
S.R. 209 Bridge Replacement in Cambridge
Contractor: The Ruhlin Co.
ODOT: District 5
The Ruhlin Co., Burgess & Niple Inc. and ODOT District 5 set this design-build project up for success through the team’s initial partnering meeting that included first responders, City of Cambridge officials, business owners and residents.
In coming up with a design for the replacement of the S.R. 209 bridge, the project team decided on an 860-foot, five-span curved bridge. However, challenges arose with the demolition of the existing structure due to limited site access because of the neighborhood below and the flooding of Wills Creek that resulted in damaged construction crane mats.
Addressed early, as ODOT Project Engineer Cheyann Moore said team members “weren’t afraid to talk to one another. So, nothing escalated quickly and we were able to get ahead of things before they became bigger issues.”
Ruhlin Project Manager Marty Fritz points to the first partnering meeting as providing a good start to the project. “I think it was good for everyone right off the bat; to know everybody’s concerns and be sensitive to them from day one … Anyone who downplays it is missing out, because it’s low hanging fruit and something that is easy to do and it really pays off.”
Besting six other project nominations in the category, The Ruhlin Co. is a two-time Don Conaway Partnering Award winner.
$20+ Million
Cincinnati Mill Creek Expressway – Phase 5
Contractor: Great Lakes Construction Co.
ODOT: District 8
It seems appropriate that the company’s largest project to date dealt with working over one of the Midwest’s largest rail yards. Project partners The Great Lakes Construction Co., E.L. Robinson Engineering of Ohio Co., ODOT District 8 and stakeholders were all aboard making the Cincinnati Mill Creek Expressway – Phase 5 project a success.
A part of the estimated $600-million-plus major expansion of Interstate 75 in Cincinnati, Phase 5 included the reconfiguration of southbound I-75’s connection to westbound I-74. The project included construction of through lanes, road widenings, new ramps, rehabilitating several bridges, noise walls, median barriers and more. At the center of the design-build project was a 1,872-foot-long curved steel flyover bridge spanning five rail lines serving more than 100 trains a day, an Army Corps. waterway, interstate and local streets.
Partnering and coordination efforts with rail companies, 12 utility owners and other stakeholders eliminated issues that not only saved money but enabled the project to be completed six months ahead of schedule.
Design-build recommendations expanded the flyover and moved exit ramps down the expressway to alleviate traffic chokepoints. This value engineering resulted in additional cost savings – as the design eliminated the need for other structures and MSE walls, and provided savings in design and planning costs. Value engineering for one ramp alone saved taxpayers more than $130,000.
“I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t want to partner,” said Great Lakes Construction Design Build Project Manager Tom Hackett. “Who wants to go to work every day and smash their head against the wall?”
The strong working relationship among the project team led to it being selected for emergency work after a fire damaged and closed the nearby Daniel Carter Beard/I-471 Bridge over the Ohio River. Great Lakes Construction crews mobilized and began emergency work without a signed contract. This successful effort in reopening the major downtown bridge within 100 days was celebrated by the Cincinnati Reds, as Great Lakes Construction and ODOT personnel threw out a game’s first pitch.
“In my opinion,” said ODOT Area Engineer Chris Tuminello, “One of the biggest reasons not only (Mill Creek Expressway Phase) 5B was successful, but also the 471 project was successful, was based on the quality of people that we had on the job.”
By winning this eight-nominated-projects category, Great Lakes Construction won its second 2026 Don Conaway Partnering Award and fourth overall.
Honorable Mention
Akron Beltway
Contractor: The Ruhlin Co.-Shelly & Sands Inc. Joint Venture
ODOT: District 4
Partnering efforts in The Ruhlin Co.-Shelly & Sands Inc. Joint Venture and ODOT District 4 resulted in one of only nine Honorable Mentions given in the history of the Don Conaway Partnering Awards Program.
At more than $160 million, the Akron Beltway Project was the largest District 4 project. The rehabilitation project to improve safety and reduce congestion around the I-76/I-77/S.R. 8 Interchange entailed 45 miles of repaving, bridge repairs and ramp realignments. The project featured construction of two flyover structures along with work to more than 40 other structures.
While the hybrid design-build, design-bid-build joint venture promoted efficient, cost-saving designs and plans, partnering improved communications among team members, stakeholders and traveling public. MOT was critical in guiding the beltway’s 115,000 daily vehicles, as 30 MOT phases combined for 49 traffic switches through the project. Just as Akron Beltway traffic was helped as ramps were designed to provide quicker and smoother travel, a ramp was redesigned and widened beyond the regular project scope to accommodate future growth. In addition, repair to an existing pier and a $1 million change order in the offseason allowed the Ruhlin-Shelly & Sands team to maintain the project schedule.
“Partnering,” said ODOT District 4 Project Engineer Ray Fridley, “saves the taxpayers by having less schedule impacts – less impacts to the people directly. We can switch the phasing over sooner; we can complete the project sooner; we can save money.”
Individual Partnering Awards
The 5th Annual Individual Partnering Awards recognize both an OCA member and an ODOT employee:
OCA
Tom Hill
The Ruhlin Co.
While his core values of integrity, perseverance and responsibility have guided his more than 20-year career with The Ruhlin Co. – leading him to advance from project engineer, to superintendent, estimator, assistant project manager, project manager and now director of Operations – those values led Tom Hill to be ODOT’s industry selection for the OCA Partnering Award.
Joining The Ruhlin Co. full-time upon graduating from the University of Akron, Hill built and refined his reputation for meticulous execution, robust stakeholder engagement and trust-based partnering through experience gained from working on projects such as the I-77 Corridor in Stark County, the reconstruction of the I-71/I-76/U.S. 225 Interchange in Medina County, the I-77 Modernization in Montgomery County and more – including this year’s Honorable Mention-winning I-77/I-76/S.R. 8 Interchange in Summit County.
Hill is recognized by project counterparts for his consistent high standards and character, collaborative problem solving and unwavering focus on project success.
ODOT
Brian French
District 2
Boasting superlative traits such as practical judgement, steady guidance and open collaboration, District 2 Area Manager Brian French was the contracting industry’s selection for the ODOT Partnering Award.
The University of Toledo alumnus has more than three decades of working in District 2, having demonstrated the power of partnering through his service in key roles on some of Northwest Ohio’s largest projects – such as the 32-mile replacement and widening of I-75, the S.R. 2 bridge replacement over Sandusky Bay and more.
Renowned for his technical expertise, old-school partnering philosophy of resolving issues directly at the project level, the Monclova resident is also noted for his excellent partnering skills that make him a standout leader within ODOT and a model representative of District 2.