The American Public Works Association (APWA) is one of the country’s premier institutes with a 90-year legacy. APWA is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) professional organization for public works practitioners. They support professionals who operate, improve, and maintain public works and infrastructure. 

The APWA annually presents the Public Works Projects of the Year to recognize excellence in the management, administration, and implementation of public infrastructure projects. The awards also celebrate the teamwork between public agencies, consultants/engineers/architects, and contractors.

The award divisions are based on project cost and are usually split into four main cost tiers: less than $5 million, $5 million to under $25 million, $25 million to $75 million, and projects over $75 million.

Awards are further divided into five categories: structures, transportation, environment, historical restoration, and disaster or emergency construction/repair.

The awardees for the 2026 Public Works Projects of the Year include:

Small Cities/Rural Communities Projects of the Year

• Disaster or Emergency Construction/Repair - Buckley Park Critical Storm Sewer Repair, Village of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin
• Environment - Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion and Indirect Reuse Program, City of Cleburne, Texas
• Historical Restoration/Preservation - Mass Central Rail Trail - Sudbury to Hudson, Massachusetts
• Structures - City of Rosemount, MN Public Works and Police Campus, Minnesota
• Transportation - St. Helens Waterfront Infrastructure Improvements, City of St. Helens, Oregon

Disaster or Emergency Construction/Repair

• Under $5 million - Hylebos Bridge Fender Repair, City of Tacoma, Washington
• $5 million - $25 million - West Cliff Drive Emergency Repairs, City of Santa Cruz
• $25 million- $75 million - Rawhide Wash Flood Hazard Mitigation, Maricopa County, Arizona
• Over $75 million - 2025 Fires-Debris Removal Program (LA County Public Works with US Army Corps of Engineers)

Environment

• Under $5 million - Santa Cruz River Wildlife Ramp to Pima County Regional Flood Control District
• $5 million - $25 million - Green Cove Creek Fish Barrier Removal, Thurston County, Washington
• $25 million - $75 million - Minneapolis Central City Parallel Tunnel to City of Minneapolis Public Works, Surface Waters & Sewers
• Over $75 million - North Bryan County Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) Water Reclamation Facility, Georgia

Historical Restoration/Preservation

• Under $5 million - San Rafael Downtown Library Renovation, California
• $5 million - $25 million - Balboa Park Botanical Building Transformation, City of San Diego, California
• $25 million - $75 million - Low Battery Restoration Project, City of Charleston, South Carolina

Structures

• Under $5 million - Daytona Beach Main Street Arch Restoration, Florida
• $5 million - $25 million - Early Care and Education Center - skul pus chxi t?nas pi ?aska tilixam (The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde)
• $25 million - $75 million - Mississippi Gateway Regional Park, Three Rivers Park District
• Over $75 million: Chimney Hollow Reservoir Project, Northern Water

Transportation

• Under $5 million - CTH D Buffalo Lake Causeway Reconstruction Project to Marquette County Highway Department
• $5 million - $25 million - Combs Road and Kenworthy Road Improvements to Pinal County Development Services
• $25 million - $75 million - Boeckman Road Corridor Improvements, City of Wilsonville, Oregon
• Over $75 million - Seattle Waterfront Main Corridor to City of Seattle, Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects

These projects are fundamental to improving society and living conditions in the area. Many are done through multi-agency collaborations, while paving the way for small-business participation (where legal provisions allow).

At Contractor News, we keep the public updated on ongoing and upcoming construction projects across the country.