Bowman Consulting Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: BWMN) secured a multi‑year, $30 million contract to provide final design and permitting for the Central Road flood‑control improvements in Cook County, Illinois. The scope includes new storm sewers and a 100‑acre‑foot detention basin, and the project is the first engagement between Bowman and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD).
The award expands Bowman’s public‑sector backlog and adds a high‑visibility, long‑duration assignment to its portfolio of large infrastructure projects, such as the DuPage WaterLink Pipeline and I‑80/I‑55/I‑90 roadway improvements. The $30 million contract represents a significant revenue driver for the coming years, aligning with the company’s focus on high‑margin, asset‑light engineering services and its strategy to grow organic, long‑duration public‑sector revenue. The contract is the total value of Bowman’s design and permitting services; it does not represent the overall construction cost of the project, which is expected to be higher.
Bowman’s backlog grew 17.9% year‑over‑year to $1.2 billion, and the company has guided 2026 revenue to $465–$480 million with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 17.0%–17.5%. The Central Road contract adds to that momentum, reinforcing the company’s trajectory of strong backlog and revenue growth. Bowman’s 2,500‑person workforce and 100 U.S. offices give it the scale to deliver on multi‑year public‑sector assignments. MWRD serves more than 5.2 million residents across 883 square miles of Cook County, making the project a key opportunity for Bowman to deepen its presence in a large, high‑profile market.
The contract is multi‑year, with the design and permitting phase slated to begin in the first quarter of 2026. Construction is expected to start in September 2024, following the completion of the permitting process. Bowman will lead stakeholder coordination, survey, geotechnical, hydrology and hydraulic modeling, environmental analysis, permitting, and the preparation of design plans, specifications and estimates. The project’s 100‑acre‑foot detention basin is a critical component of Chicago’s flood‑control infrastructure, and Bowman’s involvement positions it to capture future construction and maintenance work.
Gary Bowman, founder and CEO, said the award “continues our deliberate efforts toward organic growth of public agency revenue across the country. This growing base of multi‑phase public assignments enhances long‑term visibility and facilitates cross‑selling of integrated services to owners and operators of large, complex infrastructure systems.” The comment underscores Bowman’s intent to leverage this contract to deepen relationships with public‑sector clients and expand its service mix.
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