Highway users in several states are benefiting from less congestion, improved safety and greater productivity as a result of projects that were named as winners in the America’s Transportation Awards Mississippi Valley, Northeast and Western regional competitions.
“This is really about showcasing the tremendous work being done across the country and about letting our legislators know at the state and federal level, what we are doing in our states,” said John Horsley, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials in announcing the winners.
“It’s particularly important at this time to let lawmakers know that with Recovery Act money, we are doing additional projects along with those already programmed. We’re working hard and we are being accountable, and we are performing with pride,” Horsley said.
Thirty four transportation projects from six mid-America, five northeastern states and 10 western states were judged in four categories: Best Recovery Act Project; On Time; Under Budget and Innovative Management. The winning projects are now in the running for the America’s Transportation Awards Grand Prize and the People’s Choice Award, which will be presented this fall.
AASHTO, AAA, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are teaming up for the third year to host the competition to honor America’s very best in transportation.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation received two awards: one for the US 169 Saint Peter Project, which took home a prize in the Best Recovery Act, Small Project category; and another for the Destination Target Field Ballpark Project, which won in the Innovative Management, Medium Project category.
The Missouri Department of Transportation also received two awards: one for the Diverging Diamond Springfield Interchange Project, which took home a prize in the Innovative Management, Small Project category; and another for the I-64 St. Louis Project, which won in the Under Budget, Large Project category.
The Kansas Department of Transportation’s Wichita Central Corridor Project won in the On Time, Medium Project Category. The 24th Street Council Bluffs Project from the Iowa Department of Transportation won in the On Time, Small Project category.
The New York State Department of Transportation received two awards: one for the NYS Route 19 Project in Belmont, which took home a prize in the Under Budget, Small Project category; and another for the US Route 62 Hamburg Project, which won in the Innovative Management, Small Project category.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Spring Road Bridge Replacement Project won in the Best Recovery Act, Small Project Category. The Hampstead Bypass Project from the Maryland Department of Transportation won in the Innovative Management, Medium Project category. The Connecticut Department of Transportation’s US Route 7 Bypass Project won in the On Time, Medium Project category.
The Washington State Department of Transportation received two awards: one for the Nile Valley Landslide Project, which took home a prize in the Innovative Management, Small Project category; and another for the Burley-Olalla Interchange Project, which won in the On Time, Small Project category.
One of the largest stimulus-funded paving projects in the country, the South Dakota Department of Transportation’s I-90 White Lake Paving Project, won in the Best Recovery Act, Small Project Category. The I-15 Las Vegas Design-Build Project from the Nevada Department of Transportation won in the On Time, Large Project category. The New Mexico Department of Transportation’s San Mateo Interchange Project won in the On Time, Medium Project category.
Winners in the final remaining regional competitions will join the previous winners in competing for the Grand Prize and People’s Choice Award, which will be presented at the AASHTO Annual Meeting in Biloxi, Mississippi, October 31, 2010.
The Grand Prize is awarded to the state DOT project receiving the greatest number of points in judging by a panel of experts. The separate People’s Choice Award is presented to the transportation project that receives the greatest number of online votes from the general public. Online voting will begin later this year.
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