Ten state DOT projects named America’s Transportation Awards finalists

Updated Aug 28, 2015
The MacArthur Causeway, part of the Florida Department of Transportations Port of Miami Tunnel project.The MacArthur Causeway, part of the Florida Department of Transportations Port of Miami Tunnel project.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), along with AAA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have selected the top 10 project finalists from this year’s regional winners of the America’s Transportation Awards (ATA).

Each year 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. Voting for the People’s Choice Award is available here until September 11.

Two national winners will be recognized at AASHTO’s annual meeting Sept. 24-28 in Chicago. The projects are judged in Best Use of Innovation, Under Budget and Quality of Life/Community Development categories.

“The scores have been tallied and there are 10 projects left, competing to be called the best in America,” AASHTO Executive Director Bud Wright said. “Only one state DOT will take home this year’s Grand Prize but all the projects in the competition are making the nation’s multimodal transportation system better, faster and safer.”

The 10 finalist projects include:

Florida Department of Transportation — I-595 Corridor: large project designation, $1.22 billion. “This project relieved congestion and created a multimodal transportation network along I-595 in South Florida. Through a public-private partnership, design and construction teams completed the project on time and $275 million below the original estimated cost.”

Florida Department of Transportation — Port of Miami Tunnel: large size designation, $666 million. “The project successfully built the largest soft ground bored road tunnel in North America, decreasing traffic congestion in downtown Miami by providing a direct link between the Port of Miami and the interstate highway system, supporting freight and regional commerce.”

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Indiana Department of Transportation — Milton-Madison Bridge Project: medium project designation, $103 million. “By sliding the new bridge onto refurbished piers, crews were able to reduce the bridge closure by 11 months.“

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Michigan Department of Transportation — 96Fix project: medium project designation, $153 million. “The project rebuilt and enhanced seven miles of freeway, 37 bridges, and improved safety conditions with a new LED freeway lighting system. 140,000 motorists use the highway daily. “

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.

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.

South Carolina Department of Transportation — Assembly Street Improvement project: small project designation, $4.5 million. “The project enhanced pedestrian and transit safety with improved sidewalks and transit shelters and was completed more than three months ahead of schedule and $1.5 million 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.

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.

Here are the ATA winners from the Mid America Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, winners from the Southeastern Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials can be viewed here, and the Western Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials winners are available here.