The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s chief engineer, Brad Heigel, has been named Outstanding Engineer by the Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania.

The award was presented as part of the society’s annual banquet in Pittsburgh on March 19.

Since being named chief engineer in 2012, Heigel has overseen the day-to-day operations of the turnpike’s engineering department and is responsible for delivering on the turnpike’s 10-year, $8 billion capital plan. Heigel has been integral in the turnpike’s key initiatives, including its most transformative project yet, open road tolling.

The culmination of decade-long journey to modernize operations, ORT meets customer expectations for seamless, nonstop travel.

By the end of 2026, the turnpike will have reconfigured its interchanges east of the Reading and along the Northeast Extension, where ORT is already live, providing a safer, more natural free flow of traffic for drivers.

During his time as chief engineer, he has also overseen the turnpike’s ongoing total reconstruction project.

In the past decade, the turnpike has reconstructed 174 miles of roadway into a modern six-lane highway, added 13 miles with the Southern Beltway and approximately 14 miles with the Mon-Fayette Expressway, as well as adding new interchanges to improve access to the turnpike, including the Interstate 95, State Route 29 and State Route 903 interchanges.

Heigel, a native of St. Marys, Elk County, is a graduate of Penn State University.

He first joined the turnpike’s engineering department in 1990.

He also was an assistant vice president at Michael Baker Corporation from 2010 to 2012 before rejoining the turnpike team.