Transportation Projects win America's Transportation Award.

Press Release Summary:



Sponsored by AAA, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and AASHTO, competition honored state department of transportation projects from Northeastern Association of State Transportation Officials region. Projects were judged according to their size in 3 categories, including Innovative Management, On Time, and On Budget construction. Award gives worthy recognition to those professionals and projects that are making nation's transportation system safer and better.



Original Press Release:



Transportation Projects Improving America Honored by AAA, AASHTO and U.S. Chamber of Commerce



(Pittsburgh, PA) A cliff hanger highway, a floating bridge considered to be a
technological marvel and an economic lifeline are among the outstanding transportation projects winning the prestigious "America's Transportation Award."

The competition sponsored by the AAA, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials honored state department of transportation projects from the Northeastern Association of State Transportation Officials (NASTO) region. Three additional regional contests will be held in the Midwest, West, and South in July and August 2008.

The top regional winners will compete for the National "America's Transportation Award."

The transportation projects were judged according to their size in three categories; "Innovative management," "On Time" and "On Budget" construction.

The winners in the Northeast region are:

Winner for "Innovative Management" - Large Project

Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT)

Iway Bridge Float Project - Providence, RI

This $610 million RIDOT project was featured in the History Channel, documentary series "Mega Movers." The project earned national recognition for its unique approach to building the new bridge by assembling it offsite and floating it up Narragansett Bay to Providence.

"The Department is extremely proud of the Iway project and this recognition," RIDOT Director Michael Lewis said. "This innovative approach to building the bridge offsite and floating it to Providence was the safest, most efficient means of constructing it. It was a great feat of engineering" Lewis said.

Winner for "On Time" - Large Project

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

Route 22/322 Lewistown Narrows, Mifflin and Juniata Counties, PA

The 6.65 mile, $110 million project was the second largest construction project ever awarded by PennDOT and featured the longest mechanically stabilized earthen (MSE) wall in the United States (second longest in the world).

Pennsylvania State Representative C. Adam Harris (R-82nd District) said "this is truly an engineering marvel." "PennDOT was able to upgrade this hazardous section to a safe and modern four lane highway... completed nearly a full year ahead of schedule," Harris said.

Winner for "Innovative Management" - Medium Project

New York Department of Transportation

Frederick Douglass Susan B. Anthony Memorial Bridge, Rochester, NY

The $38 million Frederick Douglass Susan B. Anthony Memorial Bridge restoration Project not only rebuilt an aging structure over the Genesee River, it created a new icon for the city of Rochester. The bridge incorporated public input into the plans helping to blend the community's culture and character into its innovative design. Rochester Mayor Robert J. Duffy said "More than just a technological marvel, this bridge represents our identity as One City - One Rochester." "The arches are a beautiful symbol of Rochester's desire to connect and unify people and ideas," Mayor Duffy said.

Winner for "On Budget" - Medium Project

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

Route 830 Airport Access Project, Jefferson County, PA

At a cost of $25.5 million, the Route 830 Airport Access Project in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania demonstrates transportation efficiency while promoting economic and fiscal health. Built in two phases, it consists of a new Interstate 80 interchange and a new five-mile road to Dubois Regional Airport.

Construction began on Phase I in July 2004, and the entire project was opened to the public on July 13, 2007. DuBois Regional Airport Manager Robert Shaffer who represents the Clearfield-Jefferson Counties Regional Airport Authority said "This road will allow for us to spur development with our Air Commerce Park with benefits far beyond what we can see on the near horizon."

Winner for "On Time" - Medium Project

Maryland Department of Transportation

State Route 70 Rowe Boulevard Bridge, Annapolis, MD

The $28.5 million project included the replacement of the existing 7-span steel girder bridge over Weems Creek with a 5-span steel girder bridge and the rehabilitation of the 16-span steel beam bridge over College Creek. The bridges have sidewalks and bike compatible shoulders - all accessible to downtown Annapolis and area trails. In a recent letter Maryland resident William Ratchford III wrote that "when the projects were still in the planning stages several years ago I remember how a large number of Annapolitans believed the project would bring traffic to a standstill and hinder people going to work or to Navy games but their fears were not realized." Mr. Ratchford goes on to write "I wanted you to know the Rowe Boulevard project in my opinion was a job well done."

"America's Transportation Award" gives worthy recognition to those professionals and projects that are making our nation's transportation system safer and better," said AASHTO President Pete Rahn, who presented the awards in Pittsburgh. "These improvements are saving taxpayers both dollars and precious time," Rahn said.

Find out more, visit: www.americastransportationaward.org. The next regional contest will be held in Kansas City, Missouri on July 10, 2008. The National Awards will be presented at the AASHTO Annual Meeting in Hartford, Connecticut October 19, 2008.

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