CHA Consulting, Inc. (CHA) earned high honors at the 2026 ACEC Virginia Engineering Excellence Awards, with two projects recognized for their innovation, complexity, and value to communities across the Commonwealth. CHA received an Honor Award for the New River Valley Regional Water Authority (NRVRWA) Water Treatment Plant Modernization and a Merit Award for the Rocky Gap Greenway Phoenix Bridge.
The NRVRWA Water Treatment Plant in Radford, Virginia, serves Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Montgomery County, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). Originally constructed in the 1970s, the facility had not undergone a major renovation in more than 40 years. To meet growing regional demand and prepare for emerging treatment challenges such as PFAS, NRVRWA initiated a comprehensive modernization program and selected CHA as Engineer of Record. The $45 million project increased treatment capacity from 12.4 to 16.0 million gallons per day, modernized aging infrastructure, and positioned the facility for the future implementation of granular activated carbon and ozone treatment technologies.
The Rocky Gap Greenway Phoenix Bridge project transformed a century-old pedestrian bridge into a centerpiece of a community greenway trail in rural Bland County, Virginia. Guided by grassroots organizations and supported by grant funding from multiple foundations and agencies, the project reflects the character, history, and priorities of the Rocky Gap Community. As part of a broader regional effort to expand outdoor recreation in the Mount Rogers Planning Region, the rehabilitated Phoenix Bridge has reopened as a pedestrian crossing over Wolf Creek, reconnecting neighborhoods, improving safety, and providing access to the growing greenway network. Today, visitors can experience Virginia’s breathtaking natural beauty as they traverse the trail and cross the restored bridge.
Together, these projects demonstrate how careful planning and engineering can translate into meaningful, long-term improvements for communities throughout the Commonwealth. Members of CHA’s project teams accepted the awards at the ACEC Virginia Engineering Excellence Awards ceremony on February 5, 2026, held at the Dewey Gottwald Center at the Science Museum of Virginia.
ACEC Virginia is the largest engineering firm association in the Commonwealth, representing more than 5,000 employees. ACEC Virginia advocates for a positive regulatory and business environment for consulting engineering firms by providing leadership, education, and programmatic support to expand and sustain their businesses. Learn more at ACEC Virginia’s official website.