Seven state DOTs win western regional America’s Transportation Awards

Updated Aug 6, 2015
The Texas Department of Transportation’s North Tarrant Express project will alleviate congestion for more than 177,000 drivers daily.The Texas Department of Transportation’s North Tarrant Express project will alleviate congestion for more than 177,000 drivers daily.

Departments of transportation for seven western states won America’s Transportation Awards during the 2015 Western Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (WASHTO) annual meeting.

California, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Texas and Utah were honored for projects in Best Use of Innovation, Under Budget and Quality of Life/Community Development categories.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, AAA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce co-sponsor the America’s Transportation Awards. Four regional competitions are held and the 10 winners with the highest overall scores are selected as finalists for the National Grand Prize, People’s Choice Award and $10,000 in prizes. Two national winners will be recognized at AASHTO’s annual meeting Sept. 24-28 in Chicago.

“These projects are a small sampling of the many ways in which state DOTs are improving peoples’ quality of life and providing for a vibrant economy,” American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials president John Cox said. Cox also is the director of the Wyoming Department of Transportation.

Winning projects include:

Best Use of Innovation

  • Montana Department of Transportation — Deep Creek Canyon weekend bridge replacement. The $2.75 million project made use of precast bridge sections and created shaft foundations near the existing bridge to “accelerate the construction process.”
  • New Mexico Department of Transportation — Paseo del Norte/Interstate 25 reconstruction. Construction time for the $93 million project was reduced by nine months due to the design-build process implemented.

Under Budget

  • Texas Department of Transportation — North Tarrant Express. Thirteen miles of rebuilding of one of the most congested highways in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The $2.1 billion project was built using a public-private partnership to cut costs, such as a $12 million per year maintenance cost savings.
  • Colorado Department of Transportation — westbound I-70 twin tunnel widening. The $55 million project came in under budget by $7 million.
  • Utah Department of Transportation — I-15 U.S . 91/1100 south interchange. The 40-year-old interchange was redesigned to relieve congestion and cost $14 million.

Quality of Life/Community Development

  • California Department of Transportation — U.S. 101 in Prunedale overpass system. The $225 million involved separating U.S. 101 was from local roadways.
  • North Dakota Department of Transportation — Watford City Bypass. This $130 million bypass relieved traffic congestion and address safety issues in an area that saw increase population and oil-industry traffic.
  • Utah Department of Transportation — Bluff Street at Red Hills Parkway interchange. The $13 million project involved safety improvements to accommodate foot and cyclist traffic.