Public Works’ John Denninghoff Is 2013 Urban Engineer of the Year
By Space Coast Daily // June 26, 2013
2013 Urban Engineer of the Year
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Brevard County Public Works Director John Denninghoff has been named 2013 Urban Engineer of the Year in an award that will be presented by the Florida Association of County Engineers and Road Superintendents on Friday in Tampa during the annual conference of the Florida Association of Counties.
The statewide honor recognizes significant contributions to local public works/road departments and communities and is based on criteria that includes project timeliness, innovation, leadership, impact on budget and impact on the community.
Denninghoff, who has been director of Public Works since 2004, is receiving the honor primarily for his role in the $44.8 million A. Max Brewer Bridge project in Titusville.
MAX BREWER BRIDGE TOPS NATIONWIDE VOTE
“It’s kind of a big deal,” said Denninghoff, who steered most of the credit to area political leaders at the time, the Florida Department of Transportation and the federal government for the bridge that now spans over Indian River in North Brevard County.
“What we ultimately accomplished was that we were able to replace a bridge that was about to fall in and wound up with a gorgeous bridge that is now a focal point for the whole city, which is what we envisioned it would be.”
“What we ultimately accomplished was that we were able to replace a bridge that was about to fall in and wound up with a gorgeous bridge that is now a focal point for the whole city, which is what we envisioned it would be.”
Max Brewer Bridge was a state Department of Transportation project built with federal funds, but the county helped move the project along by keeping the substandard swing span bridge it was replacing – one that had been considered for rehabilitation but was seen as a potential money pit due to its poor conditions – open long enough for the fixed span bridge project to be completed, Denninghoff said. Max Brewer Bridge opened in 2011.
In November, Max Brewer Bridge won the People’s Choice Award in a national contest sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
Online voters picked their favorite project among those entered by 10 states and the A. Max Brewer Bridge Project in Titusville took first place with more than 331,000 votes cast. The contest’s $10,000 prize was used by FDOT to establish an engineering degree scholarship fund at Brevard Community College.
ABOVE VIDEO: Government officials discuss the construction of the A. Max Brewer Bridge, which spans the Indian River in Titusville to connect the City of Titusville to the barrier island. It provides access to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, the beaches and the Kennedy Space Center.
