Recognition celebrates engineering innovation, collaboration and successful delivery of Phase I of the Runway 12R-30L Reconstruction at Mesa Gateway Airport.
Pulice – a FlatironDragados company, Mesa Gateway Airport Authority and Kimley-Horn have earned a 2026 ACEC Arizona Engineering Excellence Honor Award for the CMAR Runway 12R-30L Reconstruction Phase I project in Mesa, Arizona.
The American Council of Engineering Companies of Arizona selected the project for recognition of the team's "engineering expertise, dedication, and contributions to Arizona’s communities."
The $18.5 million project reconstructed 2,800 feet of Runway 12R-30L between Taxiways B3 and L, including runway shoulders, drainage improvements, airfield lighting, signage and pavement markings. The team completed the work ahead of schedule and under budget while maintaining active airport operations.
As one of the first Mesa Gateway Airport Authority horizontal Construction Manager at Risk projects, the reconstruction demonstrated how collaboration among the owner, contractor and designer can help teams solve complex challenges.
One example came when crews discovered live fiber-optic and communications lines that could not be removed or taken out of service. The project team worked together to develop aircraft-rated handhole solutions that protected critical infrastructure and kept construction moving without delaying completion.
The team also reused 100% of the existing runway pavement materials on site, reducing waste and hauling impacts. Field verification further reduced unsuitable material mitigation from an anticipated 13,000 cubic yards to approximately 1,100 cubic yards, allowing the airport to redirect savings toward electrical upgrades.
The success of Phase I helped accelerate additional airfield improvements, including Phase II of the Runway 12R-30L Reconstruction and Taxiway Golf.
The ACEC Arizona Honor Award recognizes the shared commitment of Pulice, Mesa Gateway Airport Authority, Kimley-Horn and the broader project team to engineering excellence, collaborative delivery and improving Arizona's aviation infrastructure.