On Thursday, the nationwide Engineering and Public Works Roadshow stopped at the Low Battery Seawall Restoration Project in Charleston. The event highlighted the role engineers and public works professionals play in infrastructure projects like the local seawall improvements that increase coastal resiliency along the historic urban shoreline.
“Programs like this one require leaders with vision – people who can see off into the future,” said Congressman James Clyburn. For us to meet the challenges of climate change, Clyburn said, “we must be visionary leaders.”
In addition to Congressman Jim Clyburn, Charleston Mayor William S. Cogswell Jr. along with executives from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), the American Public Works Association (APWA), and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) also participated.
"Charleston stands at the forefront nationwide in executing infrastructure projects that not only bolster our city's resiliency but also safeguard our precious natural surroundings,” said City of Charleston Mayor William S. Cogswell. “It's wonderful to see our dedicated city staff and external partners receive recognition for their innovative engineering and visionary contributions to our city.”
The event, which took place along the newly constructed battery wall section between King Street and Battery Place along Murray Boulevard, marked the latest stop of the Engineering and Public Works Roadshow – a joint effort by the American Council of Engineering Companies, the American Public Works Association, and the American Society of Civil Engineers to bring public attention to the essential role engineers and public works professionals play in making our modern world possible.
The battery project underscores the importance of innovative engineering solutions in addressing the challenges of climate change and rising sea levels. Thursday’s event was also a chance to spotlight the engineering, construction, and public officials involved in the project, whose work often goes unrecognized.
The Roadshow initiative, launched in 2022, has traveled the United States, spotlighting transformative engineering and public works projects. From critical water improvements in Phoenix, Ariz., to the historic restoration of Main Street Station in Richmond, Va., and the construction of the Eastern Mountain Parkway in Ky., the Roadshow has been a platform to celebrate engineering’s essential impact on communities and advocate for infrastructure investment.
