FHWA Gives Awards to Top Highway Designs |
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Federal Highway Administration
October 13, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday, October 13, 2002
Contact: Bill Outlaw
Tel: 202-366-0660
FHWA 43-02
ANCHORAGE, AK-The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today announced the selections for its 2002 national awards for Excellence in Highway Design. The awards were given at the annual meeting of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in Anchorage, AK.
"As the demands on our highway system become increasingly complex, the need for innovative and sensitive design solutions will grow as well," FHWA Administrator Mary E. Peters said. "These award winners share a common approach. They are providing safe, efficient transportation projects that, at the same time, are sensitive to the human and the natural environment."
The 2002 recipients range from spectacular forest highways to historical bridges to modern intelligent transportation systems. They demonstrate how cities, states and counties are designing roadways that are not only safe and efficient but that enhance the environment around them, often standing as impressive works of art on their own.
Since 1968, hundreds of outstanding examples of highways, bridges, pedestrian facilities, roadside facilities and other facets of roadway design have been showcased in what was first known as "The Highway and its Environment" competition and is now the "Excellence in Highway Design" awards program. The program features nine categories, with the winner in each category receiving an excellence award and two others receiving the merit and the honorable mention award.
The list of categories and award winners follow:
In Category 1, The Urban Highway, the excellence award was given for the Hutchinson River Parkway in New York. Merit awards were given for the Neil Avenue Bridge in Columbus, OH, the Fort Washington Way project in Cincinnati, and Highway 96 in Ramsey County, Minnesota. Honorable mentions were given for Bruce R. Watkins Drive in Missouri, U.S. Route 2 (Main St.) in Vermont, the "Big I" Interchange in Albuquerque, NM, and the I-15/40th Street freeway project in San Diego.
In Category 2, The Rural Highway, the excellence award was given for Taconic State Parkway in New York. Merit awards were given for State Trunk Highway 21 in Wisconsin, State Route 87 from Sycamore Creek to Sunflower in Arizona, and North Shore Scenic Drive in Minnesota. Honorable mention was given for Trunk Highway 61 (Schroeder Reconstruction) in Minnesota.
In Category 3A, Major Highway Structures (above $10 million), the excellence award was given for the Broadway Bridge in Florida. A merit award was given for the Gene Hartzell Memorial Bridge in Pennsylvania. Honorable mentions were given for the Neuse River Bridge in North Carolina, the Smart Road Bridge in Virginia, and the Crooked River Gorge Bridge (High Bridge) in Oregon.
In Category 3B, Major Highway Structures (under $10 million), the excellence award was given for the Grays Bay Bridge in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Merit awards were given for Catskill Region State Route 28 in Bovina, NY, and the Mississippi River Bridge in Brainerd, MN. Honorable mentions were given for MD 146 Bridge (Dulaney Valley Road) in Maryland and for Bridge No. 09009 in Minnesota.
In Category 4, Environmental Protection and Enhancements, the excellence award was given for the First Creek Fish Passage in Washington state. A merit award was given for the Indian Creek stormwater treatment facility in Washington state. Honorable mention was given for wetland mitigation in northern Nevada.
In Category 5, Historic Preservation, the excellence award was given for Route 66/Stony Kill Bridge in New York. Merit award were given for the Strawberry Mansion Bridge in Philadelphia and the Regency Suspension Bridge in Texas. Honorable mentions were given for Rocky Creek Bridge in Oregon, Trunk Highway 55 (Hiawatha Avenue) in Minneapolis, and the Thread City Crossing in Connecticut.
In Category 6, Highway-Related Projects, the excellence award was given for the Broadway (Diamondback) bicycle/pedestrian bridge in Tucson, AZ. Merit awards were given for I-87 Northbound Hudson & Blue Ridge Sound in New York, and for the Timber Pedestrian Bridge in Salem, NC. Honorable mentions were given for North County Trailway in New York, bicycle and pedestrian facilities in Tucson, AZ, and the Crabtree Creek Greenway Connector in North Carolina.
In Category 7, Intelligent Transportation Systems, the excellence award was given for an ITS public-private partnership in Tucson, AZ.
In Category 8, Intermodal Transportation Facilities, the excellence award was given for the Natchez visitor reception and Intermodal Transportation Center in Mississippi. Merit awards were given for the Old Main Line (Frederick Branch of Maryland Commuter Rail) in Maryland and for the Contra Costa County intermodal station in California. Honorable mention was given for the Historic Salem Railroad Station Restoration in Oregon.
In Category 9, Highway Improvements on Publicly Owned Land, the excellence award was given for the Forest Highway G5, Ozark National Forest in Arkansas. A merit award went to U.S. 93, Boulders section, in Arizona. Honorable mentions were given for Highway 61 in Minnesota and to Lakeshore Scenic Drive in Nevada.