Florence & Hutcheson, Inc., of Columbia, S.C., is a finalist in the American Council of Engineering Companies' (ACEC) 43rd annual Engineering Excellence Awards competition for designing the widening of S.C. Route 6/60 over the Lake Murray Dam in Lexington, S.C.

ACEC is the Washington D.C.- based engineering industry association representing the business and political interests for owners and principals of approximately 5,700 independent engineering companies throughout the United States.

Increasing traffic volumes on S.C. Route 6/60 had caused more congestion and more accidents, but a major challenge to widening the corridor was the 1.5- mile stretch across the 75- year- old earthen Lake Murray Dam. The project team's design widened the two- lane road to five lanes, with adjacent bicycle lanes and sidewalks. Two bridges were constructed over 14- Mile Creek, as well as a new bridge located immediately upstream of the dam's spillway and gate system.

The project is among 168 engineering projects from across the nation that are being recognized by ACEC as preeminent engineering achievements for 2008.

Judging for the prestigious Engineering Excellence Awards - known industry- wide as the "Academy Awards" of engineering - took place in February, and was conducted by a distinguished panel of 36 engineers and architects, along with representatives from government, media, and academia.

Criteria for awards included uniqueness and originality, technical, social and economic value, complexity, and success of the projects in meeting goals.

All winners, including 16 Honor Awards, eight Grand Awards and the "Grand Conceptor Award" for the best overall engineering achievement, will be recognized at the Engineering Excellence Awards Gala Tuesday, April 28, 2009, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C.

The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) is the business association of America's engineering industry, representing nearly 5,700 independent engineering companies throughout the United States engaged in the development of America's transportation, water and energy infrastructure, along with environmental, industrial and other public and private facilities. Founded in 1909 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., ACEC is a national federation of 51 state and regional organizations.