San Joaquin County, CA – San Joaquin County Department of Public Works was recently honored with three Project of the Year awards from the Sacramento Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA). The projects included Pock Lane Improvements, Sexton Road Bridge Replacement, and Thornton Water Main Looping.

The APWA Awards Program recognizes projects that exhibit outstanding management, administration, design, sustainability, construction, and community relations. Maintaining a strong association among the managing agency, designer, contractor, and construction management team who worked together to complete the project are also integral components of the evaluation.

“These awards recognize more than successful projects—they reflect the meaningful difference our Public Works team is making in communities throughout San Joaquin County,” said Public Works Director Najee Zarif. “From improving pedestrian safety and water reliability to strengthening critical transportation infrastructure, these projects demonstrate our commitment to delivering practical, lasting improvements for the residents we serve. We are proud to have this work recognized by APWA and grateful to everyone who helped bring these projects to completion.”

Below are details of the award-winning projects:

Pock Lane Improvements: This project transformed a 0.7-mile stretch of Pock Lane between the City of Stockton limits and Loomis Road by adding approximately 3,650 linear feet of ADA-accessible concrete walkway. The new pedestrian connection provides safe, continuous access to nearby neighborhoods, Kennedy Community Center and Park, Monroe and Hamilton elementary schools, and Hamilton Junior High School by replacing a corridor where pedestrians had relied on the roadway shoulder for more than two decades. The project also included ADA curb ramps, driveway reconstruction, utility adjustments, mailbox relocations, and drainage improvements. Notably, the project was conceived, designed, and delivered entirely by Public Works’ in-house staff, from initial planning and public outreach through construction and project closeout.

Thornton Water Main Looping: This project improved the reliability, resiliency, and performance of the community’s water distribution system by eliminating critical dead-end water mains and improving water circulation. The project constructed approximately 0.6 miles of new water mains to complete two critical loops, cleaned nearly 5 miles of existing pipelines using the innovative Ice Pigging process to remove accumulated sediment and mineral deposits, and installed additional fire hydrants. Together, these improvements enhanced drinking water quality, increased fire flows, and strengthened the long-term reliability of the Thornton water system. The approximately $1.1 million project was funded entirely through a California Department of Water Resources grant, allowing these critical improvements to be completed at no cost to Thornton residents.

Sexton Road Bridge Replacement: This project replaced an aging, 80-year-old bridge over the South San Joaquin Irrigation District (SSJID) Canal. The upgrade was urgently needed due to the old bridge's substandard load capacity, poor geometric design, and inadequate drainage capacity. To fix these issues, the old bridge was replaced with a two-lane concrete bridge that meets currents standards with elevated approach roadways. Construction had to be expedited as the Project faced a strict, inflexible winter deadline to avoid disrupting local agricultural water deliveries. The final project – which was completed on-time – dramatically improves driver visibility, enhances water flow capacity, and secures a safe, reliable transportation route for local farming operations and residents.

To learn more about the San Joaquin County Department of Public Works visit their website.

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