The Iowa DOT was recognized for its solution to facilitate federally-mandated safety inspections on a bridge over the Dworshak Reservoir and balance that with federally-protected osprey nests there that were blocking the inspections.The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) recently received two American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) President’s awards during the association’s recent annual meeting.
“These awards show that Idaho projects consistently rank among the best in the nation,” says ITD director Brian Ness. “Within Idaho, the quality is well-known, and having that high level of quality recognized nationally is very gratifying. We are focused on making the best investment possible in order to create a better transportation system for Idaho citizens.”
The first honor was an environmental award for finding a solution to facilitate federally-mandated safety inspections on a bridge over the Dworshak Reservoir and balance that with federally-protected osprey nesting there that were blocking the inspections in north-central Idaho.
The second award honored the state’s GARVEE program investments over the past 10 years. The 59 GARVEE projects were delivered on time, under budget, greatly increased traffic capacity and dramatically improved safety. GARVEE also added about 120 miles to the state highway system for congestion relief, added or replaced 41 bridges, and built or improved 14 of the state’s busiest interchanges. GARVEE projects were delivered at an accelerated pace and at lower costs than anticipated.
