Associations honor transportation projects.
Press Release Summary:
Sponsored by AASHTO, AAA, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce, competition honored transportation projects from Southeastern Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Reconstruction of 2 Mississippi bridges destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, replacement of Woodrow Wilson Bridge over Potomac River connecting Maryland and Virginia, and one of country's first Green rest areas are among projects that won America's Transportation Award.
Original Press Release:
Transportation Projects Improving America Honored by AAA, AASHTO, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce
ORLANDO, FL. - The reconstruction of two Mississippi bridges destroyed by
Hurricane Katrina, replacement of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge over the Potomac River
connecting Maryland and Virginia, and one of the country's first "green" rest areas are
among the outstanding transportation projects that have won the prestigious "America's
Transportation Award."
The competition - sponsored by the American Association of State Highway &
Transportation Officials (AASHTO), AAA, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce - today
honored transportation projects from the Southeastern Association of State Highway &
Transportation Officials (SASHTO) at its annual meeting in Orlando, FL. This was the final of four regional competitions showcasing transportation projects using innovative financing and management in several population categories.
Award recipients in the southeastern region are:
Winner for "Innovative Management" - Large Project (tied with the Mississippi
project below)
Maryland, Virginia, and DC Transportation Departments (DOTs)
Woodrow Wilson Bridge, Potomac River
The on-time, on-budget Woodrow Wilson Bridge project has recognition in the Washington
D.C. and mid-Atlantic area for effectively reducing congestion on a major bottleneck on
Interstate 95. Through the coordination of four sponsors, the Maryland, Virginia, and District of Columbia DOTs, and the Federal Highway Administration, the 15-year, $2.47 billion project came in on-time and on-budget, breaking new ground in environmental areas, construction management, and financial planning. The project improves safety and has made significant enhancements to the local and regional economy. The mega-project includes the complete replacement of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge over the Potomac River and upgrading of four nearby interchanges along 7.5 miles of the Capital Beltway (Interstate 95/495).
"Achieving success with this $2.47 billion program demanded finding new and better ways
of delivering transportation infrastructure to America," said Maryland Transportation Secretary John Porcari. "This former 'magnet for controversy' has become a source of pride for everyone concerned."
Winner for "Innovative Management" - Large Project (tied with the Maryland/Virginia/District of Columbia project above)
Mississippi Department of Transportation (MissDOT)
Biloxi Bay Bridge, Biloxi and Ocean Springs
After Hurricane Katrina destroyed the 1.6-mile Biloxi Bay Bridge linking Biloxi and Ocean Springs, MS, in August 2005, MissDOT consulted with colleagues in Florida and South Carolina, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Design/Build Institute of America, leading to a $338 million design/build project to expedite reconstruction of this critical link along the Gulf Coast. Construction began in June 2006 and the entire new bridge - widened from four to six traffic lanes, adding a 12-foot-wide pedestrian/bicycle lane, and eliminating a draw span - opened in April 2008.
"The speed at which this project was accomplished and the context-sensitive solutions that were used in its design and construction are unmatched," said Andrew Hughes, Mississippi Division Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration.
Winner for "Innovative Management" - Medium Project
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)
SR 25 (Okeechobee Road) Depressed Section, Hialeah
State Road 25 (Okeechobee Road) is a major east/west corridor in Miami-Dade County. An active Florida East Coast railroad grade crossing with up to 26 train crossings per day between West 12th Avenue and West 19th Street in Hialeah, the crossing created substantial traffic congestion. FDOT partnered with the railroad, Miami-Dade County
Transit, the city of Hialeah, and other parties to remove the bottleneck by lowering (depressing) the highway under the train tracks.
The $37 million project rebuilt a quarter-mile section of SR 25, adding one new lane in each direction in addition to sinking the road to allow trains to pass overhead. Significant improvements in traffic flow have been realized thanks to the project's completion.
"Innovative projects such as this one allow us to achieve our mission of providing a safe and efficient transportation system for the people of Florida," said FDOT Secretary Stephanie Kopelousos.
Winner for "Innovative Management" - Small Project
Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)
New Kent Safety Rest Area & Information Center, New Kent County
Completed in 2007, the rest area along westbound Interstate 64 is the first state-owned facility to obtain a Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The $5 million, 9,000-square-foot building uses 42 percent less energy than a standard building of its size, is estimated to save more than 1 million gallons of water and was constructed using 20 percent recycled building materials.
Amenities for travelers include additional restrooms, easier accessibility for handicapped people, traveler information kiosks, and new play areas for children and pets.
"VDOT wants to lead the way in building energy-efficient and environmentally friendly facilities, and receiving this honor from AASHTO proves we're headed in the right direction," said Virginia Transportation Commissioner David Ekern.
Winner for "On Time" - Large Project
Mississippi Department of Transportation (MissDOT)
St. Louis Bay Bridge, Henderson Point & Bay St. Louis
Hurricane Katrina destroyed the bridge between Henderson Point and Bay St. Louis carrying US 90 along the Mississippi Gulf Coast - the St. Louis Bay Bridge. MissDOT had to move expeditiously to replace the structure. While the 2.1-mile-long bridge was out, motorists had to use a 45-minute detour to travel between the two communities.
MissDOT proceeded with the state's first-ever "design/build" contract. The new bridge was built higher, eliminating the need for a drawbridge. The contract was awarded in January 2006; a $5 million bonus was earned for opening two lanes in May 2007, earlier than scheduled; and all work was completed on time by November 2007.
"We salute our many partners in the reconstruction process, and most importantly the resilient people of Bay St. Louis, Henderson Point, and the surrounding Gulf Coast communities," said MDOT Executive Director Larry "Butch" Brown. "This beautiful bridge is just one step in rebuilding their lives better than before."
Winner for "On Time" - Medium Project
Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT)
SmartFIX40 Contract #1, Knoxville
Interstate 40 through central Knoxville carried 103,000 vehicles per day and had not been improved since its original construction in the 1960s. TDOT embarked in 2005 on the $190 million "SmartFIX40" - the largest single road project in Tennessee history - to replace 2.5 miles of freeway, 9.2 miles of ramps and city streets, 25 bridges, one tunnel, and numerous other enhancements. To accelerate completion by 23 months, project managers decided to close 1.4 miles of I-40 for 14 months.
To prepare for the interstate shutdown, Contract #1 was awarded in 2005 for $85 million to build a new city boulevard, improve 18 city streets, and reconstruct the James White Parkway to provide detour routes. The on-time completion of Contract #1 allowed for the second contract - the interstate reconstruction - to begin as scheduled in May 2008.
"This project has been a monumental undertaking and employees at the Tennessee Department of Transportation have done an excellent job at minimizing the impact to motorists," said Gov. Phil Bredesen. "I'm pleased to see TDOT honored with this prestigious award. It is a testament to the years of planning and preparation that went into such a complex project."
