66 Express Earns Highly Commended Recognition for Best Operational Project at 2025 P3 Awards
Another Prestigious Honor Adds to the Multi-Modal Roadways Growing Record of P3 Excellence Since Opening in 2022
Manassas, Va. October 24, 2025– At a black-tie ceremony held beneath the soaring ceilings of Guastavino’s in New York City, the 66 Express Outside the Beltway earned Highly Commended recognition in the Best Operational Project category at the prestigious 2025 P3 Awards presented by P3 Bulletin on October 22.
The accolade places the 66 Express among the top public-private partnership (P3) projects in operation worldwide – highlighting the project’s continued excellence in delivering efficiency, reliability, and public benefit through innovative infrastructure operations.
It’s the second time the P3 Awards have bestowed a high-profile honor upon the 66 Express, and the fourth major industry award the transformative project – which, at more than $4 billion in private investment, constitutes the largest P3 project in the United States this century – has collected.
In 2023, I-66 Express Mobility Partners – the consortium of private developers Cintra, Meridiam, and APG, contracted to operate the 66 Express in partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation through 2066 – was cited as the Best Road, Bridge, or Tunnel Project for that year.
Earlier that year, I-66 EMP was named the P3 Project of the Year in the Innovation of the Year category by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA).
Recognition of the P3 project began well before construction was completed. In 2018, IJGlobal America and Infrastructure Investor selected the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway as the North American Road Deal of the Year as well as the Global PPP Deal of the Year and the North American PPP Deal of the Year.
A contingent of senior-level personnel from I-66 EMP were on hand to gratefully accept the latest award.
“We’re beyond thrilled to earn this recognition as ‘Highly Commended’ for the P3 Awards’ Best Operational Project. It’s an honor and a privilege,” said Ruben Roman, I-66 EMP CEO. “This latest recognition is a testament to all the hard work, dedication, and innovation of everyone at I-66 EMP, and we’re proud to bring it home to Northern Virginia.”
The full list of this year’s awardees is published at www.P3Awards.com.
About the 66 Express Lanes Outside the Beltway:
Part of VDOT’s Transform 66 Outside the Beltway program, the 66 Express Outside the Beltway is a transformative 22.5-mile multi-modal mega-project featuring advanced dynamic-tolling systems to keep traffic flowing at all times. The lanes provide Northern Virginia commuters, businesses, and mass transit with a reliable option to move people, goods, and services throughout the I-66 corridor, allowing drivers to Sit Less, Live More. Visit www.Ride66Express.com to learn more, and keep up with the 66 Express on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
About I-66 Express Mobility Partners:
I-66 Express Mobility Partners (EMP) is a consortium of leading infrastructure companies including Cintra, Meridiam, and APG. In public-private partnership (P3) with VDOT, I-66 EMP is contracted to operate the 66 Express Lanes Outside the Beltway through 2066. Connect with I-66 EMP on LinkedIn.
