The 4944 American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), 4939 AAA and the US Chamber of Commerce have awarded 923 California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the 4503 Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) the Grand Prize and the People Choice awards in the 2014 America’s Transportation Awards competition.
A record 73 transportation projects from 36 states and the District of Columbia were nominated in the 7th annual competition. The 10 projects that received the highest number of points in four regional competitions were in the running for the top prizes announced today, at the AASHTO Annual Meeting in Charlotte.
Caltrans’ San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge East Span project received the Grand Prize, determined by a panel of judges. The US$6.3 billion project replaced a nearly 80-year-old structure with a new, modern bridge featuring advanced seismic response technology. The bridge, which was constructed to last more than 100 years, is designed to accommodate future expansions of light rail and other modes of transportation.
FDOT’s Mathews Bridge Impact and Emergency Response Project earned more than 300,000 online votes, making it the winner of the People’s Choice Award. In September 2013, a vessel collided with the Mathews Bridge, causing US$3.8 million in damage to the structure. FDOT’s emergency repair plan reopened the vital Jacksonville crossing to vehicle traffic only 33 days after the collision and 12 days ahead of schedule.
“There were many projects worthy of recognition in this year’s competition,” said Bud Wright. AASHTO executive director. “But the Caltrans and Florida DOT projects exemplify the best of the best. Their use of innovation and creative problem-solving improved the lives of the nearby communities and their economies. We sincerely tip our hats to all the hard working professionals who helped make these projects a reality.”
All of the projects in the competition were judged in three categories: Under Budget, Best Use of Innovation and a new category this year Quality of Life/Community Development.
A record 73 transportation projects from 36 states and the District of Columbia were nominated in the 7th annual competition. The 10 projects that received the highest number of points in four regional competitions were in the running for the top prizes announced today, at the AASHTO Annual Meeting in Charlotte.
Caltrans’ San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge East Span project received the Grand Prize, determined by a panel of judges. The US$6.3 billion project replaced a nearly 80-year-old structure with a new, modern bridge featuring advanced seismic response technology. The bridge, which was constructed to last more than 100 years, is designed to accommodate future expansions of light rail and other modes of transportation.
FDOT’s Mathews Bridge Impact and Emergency Response Project earned more than 300,000 online votes, making it the winner of the People’s Choice Award. In September 2013, a vessel collided with the Mathews Bridge, causing US$3.8 million in damage to the structure. FDOT’s emergency repair plan reopened the vital Jacksonville crossing to vehicle traffic only 33 days after the collision and 12 days ahead of schedule.
“There were many projects worthy of recognition in this year’s competition,” said Bud Wright. AASHTO executive director. “But the Caltrans and Florida DOT projects exemplify the best of the best. Their use of innovation and creative problem-solving improved the lives of the nearby communities and their economies. We sincerely tip our hats to all the hard working professionals who helped make these projects a reality.”
All of the projects in the competition were judged in three categories: Under Budget, Best Use of Innovation and a new category this year Quality of Life/Community Development.
