Northwest Pipe Company Announces Major Order.

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Northwest Pipe Company (Nasdaq:NWPX) reported today that it has been awarded a contract to manufacture and furnish approximately $23 million of welded steel pipe to East Cherry Creek Valley Water & Sanitation District (ECCV) in Aurora, Colorado. The pipe is for the Northern Water Supply project, which will begin transporting renewable water to ECCV customers from its source in the South Platte River in 2006.

Northwest Pipe will supply approximately 164,000 feet of 48-inch-diameter steel pipe. The pipe is expected to be manufactured in Denver, Colorado, beginning in the second quarter of 2005 with completion before the end of the year.

Northwest Pipe Company manufactures welded steel pipe in two business segments. Its Water Transmission Group is a leading supplier of large-diameter, high-pressure, steel pipe products used primarily for water transmission in the United States and Canada. Its Tubular Products Group manufactures smaller-diameter steel pipe for a wide range of construction, agricultural, industrial and mechanical applications. The Company is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and operates eleven manufacturing facilities in the United States and Mexico.

This release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, those regarding the project described above. These statements reflect management's current views and estimates of market circumstances, industry conditions and company performance. Actual results could vary materially from the description contained herein due to many factors, including market demand, operating efficiencies, availability and price of raw materials, and other risks described from time to time in the company's reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission.