Mississippi DOT, Michael Baker International win engineering award for I-55 Split Diamond Project

Updated Apr 29, 2016
Pictured left to right: MDOT Executive Director Melinda McGrath; MDOT State Bridge Engineer Justin Walker; Northern Transportation Commissioner Mike Tagert; MDOT Assistant Chief Engineer Amy Mood; Southern Transportation Commissioner Tom King; Kenny Collins, Project Manager, Michael Baker International; Central Transportation Commissioner Dick Hall, Ray Balentine, Vice President, Alabama & Mississippi, Michael Baker International; MDOT Roadway Design Engineer Richard Pittman.Pictured left to right: MDOT Executive Director Melinda McGrath; MDOT State Bridge Engineer Justin Walker; Northern Transportation Commissioner Mike Tagert; MDOT Assistant Chief Engineer Amy Mood; Southern Transportation Commissioner Tom King; Kenny Collins, Project Manager, Michael Baker International; Central Transportation Commissioner Dick Hall, Ray Balentine, Vice President, Alabama & Mississippi, Michael Baker International; MDOT Roadway Design Engineer Richard Pittman.

The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Michael Baker International won the Grand Conceptor Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Mississippi (ACEC/MS) for the I-55 Split Diamond Project.

The $100 million project was completed in May 2015. It widened the interstate to four lanes in both directions.

The project also won the ACEC People’s Choice Award at the Mississippi Engineering Excellence awards, marking the first time a project has won both awards.

“MDOT presented us with quite a challenge when we were selected to redesign this critical section of I-55, an area known for persistent gridlock that is also near several businesses, including a car dealership and printing shop,” says Ray Balentine, office executive for Michael Baker’s Mississippi operations. “Our local focus and constant collaboration enabled us to generate solutions that balanced the needs of commuters with the concerns of local businesses, and we’re proud of this recognition from ACEC/MS.”

The I-55 Split Diamond Project in Mississippi reconstructed I-55 from Ridgeland to Madison.The I-55 Split Diamond Project in Mississippi reconstructed I-55 from Ridgeland to Madison.