Want to see your road or bridge project featured on the cover of Roads & Bridges? Submit your application for the 2026 Roads & Bridges Top 10 Roads and Top 10 Bridges Awards by Sept. 4 for a chance to be showcased.

To show what that spotlight can look like, we’re sharing the covers from our 2023, 2024 and 2025 Top 10 Roads and Top 10 Bridges issues. Take a look at what that kind of recognition can mean for your company when your project is named one of the year’s winning roads or bridges.

2025 Cover Projects

U.S. 181 New Harbor Bridge (2025 Top 10 Bridges No. 1)

The U.S. 181 New Harbor Bridge in Corpus Christi, Texas, earned the top spot on Roads & Bridges' 2025 Top 10 Bridges list for its record-setting design, engineering precision and transformative impact on the region. Replacing the original 1959 Harbor Bridge, the $1.3 billion project features the longest cable-stayed main span in the United States and the world's longest precast segmental span. Led by TxDOT, Flatiron/Dragados and Arup-Carlos Fernandez Casado, the bridge was designed to improve traffic flow while providing 205 feet of navigational clearance for larger cargo vessels entering the Port of Corpus Christi. Innovative construction methods allowed crews to assemble nearly 700 precast segments without disrupting maritime traffic, overcoming significant logistical challenges. Opened in June 2025, the landmark structure enhances mobility for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians while serving as a long-term economic catalyst for South Texas.

Hurricane Ian Sanibel Island Access (2025 Top 10 Roads No. 1)

The Hurricane Ian Sanibel Island Access project transformed a devastating disaster into a model for resilient infrastructure. After Hurricane Ian destroyed the Sanibel Causeway in September 2022, the project team restored emergency access within days and ultimately delivered a permanent solution designed to withstand future major storms. The $328 million effort rebuilt and fortified the three-mile corridor using advanced coastal modeling, elevated roadways, strengthened seawalls and durable materials engineered for long-term performance. Innovative technology and an unprecedented level of collaboration helped accelerate construction, allowing the project to be completed ahead of schedule and under budget. Today, the causeway once again serves as the critical link between Sanibel Island and the mainland while standing as a national example of infrastructure resilience, emergency response, and community recovery.

2024 Cover Projects

Madawaska-Edmundston International Bridge Replacement (2024 Top 10 Bridges No. 1)

The Madawaska-Edmundston International Bridge Replacement earned the top spot on Roads & Bridges' 2024 Top 10 Bridges list for delivering a modern cross-border connection that improves safety, mobility, and economic activity between Maine and New Brunswick. Led by MaineDOT and the New Brunswick Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, the $97.5 million project replaced a century-old bridge with a new six-span structure featuring wider travel lanes, shoulders and a dedicated sidewalk. The project team, including HNTB and Reed & Reed, overcame significant technical and logistical challenges, from constructing on five different foundation types to navigating international regulations, permitting requirements and security protocols. Durable materials and innovative design features were incorporated to extend the bridge's service life and reduce long-term maintenance needs. Opened in August 2024, the new crossing eliminates lengthy detours, strengthens regional connectivity, and stands as a model of successful international collaboration.

Complete 540: N.C. 55 Bypass to East of Pierce Olive Road (2024 Top 10 Roads No. 1)

The Complete 540 project earned the top spot on Roads & Bridges' 2024 Top 10 Roads list for delivering a critical new transportation link that improves mobility across one of North Carolina's fastest-growing regions. Led by the North Carolina Turnpike Authority, Gannett Fleming and the Flatiron Construction-Branch Civil joint venture, the 4.6-mile project combined innovative design, environmental stewardship and extensive stakeholder coordination. A standout feature was the diverging diamond interchange, which enhances safety and traffic flow while accommodating future growth along the corridor. The team also leveraged advanced technologies, including drone-based earthwork tracking and digital design tools, to improve efficiency and oversight throughout construction. Opened in September 2024, Complete 540 is expected to support long-term economic development, improve regional connectivity and serve as a model for modern highway delivery.

2023 Cover Projects

Mile Long Bridge (2023 Top 10 Bridges No. 1)

The $500 million Mile Long Bridge project replaced and widened a critical section of I-294 serving the Chicago region, carrying up to 150,000 vehicles daily. Completed in 2022, the effort constructed two new 4,800-foot bridge structures and expanded capacity from four lanes to five as part of the Illinois Tollway's broader Central Tri-State Tollway modernization program. Crews overcame significant construction challenges by using an innovative gantry system to install massive steel beams in tight work zones, eliminating the need for barge-mounted cranes. The project also required extensive coordination among dozens of engineering and construction firms, government agencies, utilities and railroads. Its combination of engineering ingenuity, collaboration and regional impact earned the Mile Long Bridge the top spot on Roads & Bridges' 2023 Top 10 Bridges list.

Portland Area Widening and Safety Improvements Program (2023 Top 10 Roads No. 1)

The Portland Area Widening and Safety Improvements Program transformed a heavily traveled six-mile stretch of Maine Turnpike (I-95), improving mobility and safety along one of the state's most important transportation corridors. Led by the Maine Turnpike Authority and HNTB, the $200 million, six-year effort included widening, interchange upgrades, bridge work, toll plaza improvements and new emergency vehicle ramps. The project team overcame complex geotechnical challenges associated with unstable marine clay soils by implementing an innovative combination of embankment preloading and geofoam lightweight fill. At peak construction, six interconnected contracts were underway simultaneously, requiring extensive planning and coordination to keep the overall program on schedule and minimize disruptions for motorists. The result is a safer, more efficient roadway serving the greater Portland region, earning the project the top spot on Roads & Bridges' 2023 Top 10 Roads list.

From resilient causeways and cross-border connections to major bridge replacements and regional roadway upgrades, these covers show the scale and significance of the projects recognized through the Roads & Bridges Top 10 Roads and Top 10 Bridges Awards. For the companies and agencies behind them, a winning project is more than a completed job; it is a chance to put that work in front of the industry and show what strong infrastructure delivery can look like.