CHA Consulting, Inc. (CHA) has earned two prestigious honors at the 19th annual Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers Achievement in Civil Engineering (ACE) Awards, held May 12, 2026, in Plantsville, Connecticut. The firm was named Employer of the Year and received an ACE Award for its innovative work on the Commodore Isaac Hull Bridge Emergency Rehabilitation for the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT).
The dual recognition underscores CHA’s commitment to advancing the civil engineering profession through advanced solutions to critical infrastructure challenges.
The CSCE Employer of the Year Award recognizes organizations that demonstrate exceptional support for the engineering profession through mentorship, professional engagement, and industry leadership. This recognition reflects CHA’s commitment to fostering professional growth through mentorship, collaboration, and the ongoing exchange of expertise. By cultivating an environment that encourages new ideas and continually advances technical excellence, CHA equips its people to drive innovation and shape the future of engineering.
CHA also earned project recognition for its design work supporting CTDOT on the emergency rehabilitation of the Commodore Isaac Hull Bridge, a critical Route 8 crossing between Shelton and Derby. After inspectors identified deterioration in steel gusset plates essential to the bridge’s truss system, CHA conducted an expedited technical review that identified additional structural concerns and directly informed CTDOT’s emergency declaration.
Faced with tight timelines and constructability constraints that made conventional steel repairs impractical, CHA developed a first-of-its-kind repair strategy using ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC). By leveraging UHPC’s exceptional strength, superior bond performance, and flowable properties, the team delivered a resilient, constructible solution that met accelerated emergency demands. Repairs to 12 gusset plates across three truss spans were completed in less than four months, restoring structural integrity while establishing a new precedent for steel truss bridge rehabilitation.
This breakthrough application expands the possibilities for bridge owners nationwide, demonstrating how innovative materials and agile engineering can accelerate infrastructure recovery and extend the life of aging transportation assets.
These honors reflect CHA’s ability to pair technical excellence with forward-thinking problem-solving. From cultivating engineering leadership to pioneering new infrastructure repair methods, CHA continues to redefine what is possible through practical innovation.
The Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers (CSCE), a section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), advances the civil engineering profession through education, advocacy, and professional engagement. The ACE Awards recognize outstanding engineering achievements across Connecticut that demonstrate technical excellence, innovation, and lasting public impact. Learn more at CSCE’s official website.