Clarkson Celebrates Opening of Ted & Pat Jones Bridge at Rock Island Trail State Park
October 5, 2026
The De Soto Local Road Improvements Project was named one of three winners of the KC Global Design FWD Fusion Awards, recognizing the collaboration and teamwork behind this award-winning project.
Presented at KC Global Design's annual FWD celebration, the awards honor projects that unite Kansas City's design and construction community through shared vision, partnership, and mutual respect.
Delivered in support of Panasonic Energy's $4 billion electric vehicle battery manufacturing facility in De Soto, Kansas, the project brought together the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), Clarkson Construction, HDR, BHC, Burns & McDonnell, and Garver to deliver critical infrastructure improvements on an accelerated schedule.
As KDOT's first-ever Progressive Design-Build transportation project, De Soto required a highly collaborative approach to meet an accelerated construction schedule while maintaining a strong focus on safety, quality, and community needs.
From the outset, the project team established a shared charter centered on safety, quality, schedule, community, and teamwork. This framework helped align priorities across the multiple firms, disciplines, and public agencies involved.
A co-located project office, weekly coordination meetings, and task force groups created opportunities for real-time communication and problem-solving. Designers, engineers, contractors, utility providers, and project stakeholders worked side-by-side to identify challenges, develop solutions, and keep construction moving forward.
This collaborative environment was instrumental in successfully delivering a complex infrastructure program within an aggressive timeline.
The FWD Fusion Award adds to a growing list of industry honors recognizing the De Soto Local Road Improvements Project for its innovative delivery, project excellence, and collaborative approach. More importantly, the recognition highlights the value of bringing talented teams together with a common purpose.
We're proud to share this recognition with the project partners whose collaboration, trust, and commitment made the project's success possible.
