Celebrate excellence: Underground Infrastructure awards now open for submissions

(UI) — The backbone of modern civilization lies beneath our feet, hidden from view but essential to daily life. From the water flowing through our taps to the fiber networks powering our digital world, underground infrastructure keeps society functioning. Now, the industry's most innovative projects have a chance to shine.

Submissions are officially open for the Underground Infrastructure Awards, recognizing the groundbreaking projects and technologies that have transformed our industry over the past year. This prestigious recognition program celebrates the engineers, contractors, and visionaries who push the boundaries of what's possible below ground.

Eight categories of excellence

The awards span the full spectrum of underground infrastructure, acknowledging innovation across eight critical categories:

Asset Management Project of the Year – This will honor projects that leverage cutting-edge technology to manage aging infrastructure systems. As utilities grapple with expanding networks of sewer, water, fiber, and gas systems, smart asset management has become essential for operational success.

Emerging Technology of the Year – Will spotlight breakthrough innovations unveiled between July 1, 2024, and today. These game-changing technologies drive productivity gains and economic improvements that reshape how we approach underground construction.

Fiber Project of the Year – This award will recognize outstanding fiber installation projects addressing America's insatiable demand for speed and bandwidth. With significant rural funding initiatives underway, exceptional fiber projects are connecting communities nationwide.

Gas Distribution Project of the Year – Celebrate the critical work of constructing and replacing natural gas distribution systems across North America. These projects ensure reliable energy delivery while meeting stringent safety and environmental standards.

HDD Project of the Year - Acknowledge excellence in horizontal directional drilling, the disruptive technology that revolutionized utility and pipeline construction since the late 1980s. Today's HDD projects tackle increasingly complex challenges with remarkable precision.

Power Project of the Year – This award highlights outstanding underground electrical projects supporting grid expansion and modernization. As demand for reliable electricity grows, these projects ensure power reaches where it is needed most.

Sewer Project of the Year – Honor projects addressing wastewater management challenges as populations shift and grow. Whether through rehabilitation, new installation, or innovative combinations, these projects maintain public health and environmental protection.

Water Project of the Year – This award recognizes exceptional potable water system projects ensuring communities have access to clean, reliable water supplies. These vital projects adapt to changing demographics and increasing demand.

Submit nominations now

The Underground Infrastructure Awards provide unparalleled recognition for projects that demonstrate innovation, overcome significant challenges, or offer valuable lessons to the industry. Winners gain prestigious acknowledgment among their peers and visibility within the broader infrastructure community.

Projects are evaluated based on scope, technology implementation, unique challenges addressed, and benefits delivered to the market. Whether your project pioneered new techniques, solved complex problems, or achieved remarkable results, the awards provide a platform to showcase your achievements. As infrastructure continues to evolve, recognizing excellence becomes increasingly important. These awards not only celebrate past achievements but inspire future innovations that will shape how we build, maintain, and manage the underground systems our communities depend on.

The Underground Infrastructure Awards represent more than recognition—they are a catalyst for industry advancement and a celebration of the skilled professionals who keep our world connected, powered, and flowing smoothly beneath the surface.

The submission process is straightforward but requires thoughtful preparation. Projects are evaluated by a panel of anonymous industry experts who understand the technical complexities and market realities of underground infrastructure work. Submit your project today at: http://bit.ly/46EwcSq

Winners receive a prestigious crystal award and the industry recognition that comes with being selected by their peers as leaders in innovation and excellence.

Proven excellence

Recent winners demonstrate the caliber of projects these awards recognize. The Trinity River Authority's $25.6 million Central Regional Wastewater System project earned Sewer Project of the Year honors for replacing over 20,000 linear feet of aging interceptor pipelines through a densely developed Texas corridor. PipeSense's PipeSentry Suite claimed Emerging Technology of the Year for its comprehensive pipeline monitoring solutions. The Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion's 746-mile fiber optic deployment – the world's longest on a multi-product liquids pipeline – took Fiber Project of the Year.

These winning projects share common threads: they solved real-world challenges, delivered measurable benefits, and advanced industry capabilities. Your project could be next!

The Underground Infrastructure Awards do not just celebrate past achievements—they inspire future innovations. Submit your project today and join the ranks of industry leaders who are shaping the future of underground infrastructure.

Questions about the awards? Contact Karen@UndergroundInfrastructure.com

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