We are honored to share that the 78-Inch Sanitary Sewer Repair in Houston, Texas has been named the American Public Works Association (APWA) Project of the Year in the Disaster or Emergency Construction Repair (>$5M–$25M) category.
This recognition celebrates engineering excellence and the power of fast, coordinated response to critical infrastructure failures that affect public health and safety. We’re proud to have played a role in supporting this award-winning emergency project alongside the City of Houston and Harper Brothers Construction.
About the Project: Emergency Response to Critical Infrastructure Failure
In east Houston, a major infrastructure failure occurred when a 78-inch sanitary sewer line collapsed due to compromised pipe joints. The resulting cave-in posed a serious threat to the surrounding community, both from a structural and environmental standpoint.
The City of Houston moved swiftly to secure public safety, contain the damage, and restore essential sewer service. Harper Brothers Construction was selected to lead the emergency repair, beginning with a comprehensive investigation and the development of a professionally engineered plan.
The project scope included:
- Pavement demolition and reconstruction
This was a critical race against time to protect the community and restore vital infrastructure under urgent and high-risk conditions.
At Stiver Engineering, we are honored to have supported this emergency repair with the design, planning, and construction coordination necessary to move quickly while ensuring safety and compliance.
In emergency projects like this one, our team helps with:
- Excavation and shoring plans for deep utility access in urban and high-traffic zones
- Bypass system design to maintain uninterrupted service during construction
- Structural support to stabilize surrounding areas during repair
- Construction engineering consultation to troubleshoot field challenges in real time
In moments where every hour counts, our focus is on being responsive, precise, and collaborative. We understand that emergency infrastructure repairs require a balance of urgency and engineering discipline—and we bring both.
With decades of experience in municipal and civil infrastructure, we’re proud to support cities and contractors across Texas and beyond in developing safe, efficient, and code-compliant solutions—even under the most challenging circumstances.
We are grateful to our partners at the City of Houston and Harper Brothers Construction for their leadership on this project and proud to see this work recognized by the APWA as a benchmark for excellence in emergency repair.
