Mid-America States Win AASHTO Honors
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Six Midwestern states recently earned awards for outstanding transportation projects from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
Eight projects representing Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin won America’s Transportation Awards, which honor state departments of transportation that have led projects to improve safety and foster economic growth.
This round of awards recognized projects ranging from bridge replacements to interchange reconfigurations.
Braceras
“For 12 years, the America’s Transportation Awards have recognized state DOT projects for making communities safer, less congested and better connected,” said Carlos Braceras, AASHTO president and executive director of Utah DOT. “Today’s regional winners demonstrate how state DOTs collaborate with local communities and partners to develop innovative, multimodal solutions that keep people and goods moving by motor vehicle, scooter, bicycle and on foot.”
The awards, sponsored jointly with AAA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, honor projects in three categories: quality of life/community development, the best use of technology and operations excellence.
The DOTs for Wisconsin, Ohio, Missouri and Illinois won quality of life/community development awards. The category was divided on the basis of cost, ranging from small projects (less than $25 million) and medium (between $25 million and $200 million) to large (more than $200 million).
Wisconsin DOT won in the small category for replacing a bridge in Eau Claire that is heavily trafficked by drivers, bicyclists, joggers, kayakers and fishers. Ohio DOT won in the medium class for constructing the Martin Luther King Jr. Interchange on Interstate 71 in Cincinnati.
“In addition to reducing travel times and easing motorists’ commute, the reconfigured interchange provides much-needed connectivity and will spur economic growth within the Uptown Cincinnati community,” said Tammy Campbell, ODOT’s District 8 deputy director.
The DOTs for Missouri and Illinois won in the large category for quality of life/community development projects. The agencies teamed to build a bridge to carry I-70 across the Mississippi River to alleviate traffic and freight needs in the St. Louis area.
“Working together, Illinois and Missouri have collaborated to make the Metro East an even better place to live, work and raise a family,” acting Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman said. “This honor highlights our commitment to finding multimodal solutions as we rebuild Illinois.”
Congrats to the winning states!
Transportation Projects That Benefit Communities And Businesses Win Regional Awardshttps://t.co/s7AgRszbGf @WisconsinDOT @ODOT_Statewide @MoDOT_KC @IDOT_Illinois @MnDOTnews — AASHTO (@aashtospeaks) August 14, 2019
Missouri, Illinois and Wisconsin DOTs won again in the best use of technology division. Missouri won in the small project category for displaying creativity in its use of a “divergabout” traffic alignment, which combines a diverging diamond interchange and a roundabout. Illinois won in the medium class for modernizing the train station in Joliet, the first major railway stop outside Chicago and an important hub for freight and passengers. Wisconsin DOT won in the large class for updating the Milwaukee interchange that leads to the Regional Medical Center and the zoo.
Michigan DOT and Minnesota DOT won for operations excellence. Michigan DOT won in the small category because it reconstructed and repurposed routes in Jackson to improve the business routes along I-94. Minnesota DOT won in the medium category for reconstructing the roads leading up to the Smith Avenue High Bridge outside St. Paul.
In addition to Mid-America, AASHTO recognizes regional groups that encompass the Southeast, Northeast and West. The three highest-scoring projects from each region will compete for a grand prize, determined by an independent panel of judges, and the People’s Choice Award, selected by the public through online voting.
