September 23, 2019

WILMINGTON, NC – Engineering News-Record (ENR) Southeast has honored Balfour Beatty with an Excellence in Safety Award for its Surf City Bridge Replacement project on behalf of the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) in Surf City, N.C. The Excellence in Safety Award recognizes projects and project teams that delivered the most impressive overall safety program, paired with outstanding safety results.

ENR judges attributed their award decision to Balfour Beatty’s Zero Harm culture which consistently focuses on training, planning, hazard identification, and injury prevention methods. Judges also noted the See-Something-Say-Something campaign designed to address unsafe acts and conditions, and the stretch-and-flex program designed to reduce muscular strain.

“To receive this award of excellence is truly an honor for our team and the work we do with the North Carolina Department of Transportation,” said Mark Johnnie, vice president and Southeast region manager for Balfour Beatty’s U.S. civil operations. “We make safety a personal responsibility for every person on and off the job site by eliminating exposure to high-risk situations and addressing unsafe conditions immediately.”

The $53 million bridge in Surf City, N.C. replaced the iconic swing bridge built in 1954 that connects the mainland to Topsail Island, a popular tourist destination in the area. Balfour Beatty began construction on the bridge in October 2016 and safely completed construction in December 2018 — more than six months ahead of schedule.

Last month, ENR Southeast also honored Balfour Beatty and the Surf City Bridge project with an Award of Merit among its best projects of 2019. Winners are selected by a panel of jurors from across the Southeast architecture, engineering, and construction community, and will be formally recognized in November during an awards ceremony hosted by ENR.