The Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Excellence in Highway
Design Awards Program recognizes outstanding examples of highways,
bridges, pedestrian facilities, roadside facilities, and other facets
of roadway design. The 2004 honorees encompass everything from historic
bridges to stunning modern structures to urban greenways, all contributing
not only to safety and mobility but to the aesthetics of the natural
world around them.
The 2004 awards were announced at the American Association of State
Highway and Transportation Officials Annual Meeting in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, on September 18. The individual awards will be presented
to the winners at later dates by their local FHWA Division Administrator.
For more information on the awards program, contact Program Coordinator
Donald R. Jackson at FHWA, 202-366-4630 (email: donald.jackson@fhwa.dot.gov).
![Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge](images/bunkerhillbridge.jpg) |
Leonard P. Zakim
Bunker Hill Bridge |
Excellence Award Winners
Category 1—The Urban Highway
Reconstruction of South Lake Shore Drive, Illinois Department
of Transportation (IDOT) and Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT)
US 41, South Lake Shore Drive, is one of Chicago's primary commuter routes, carrying more than 100,000 vehicles a day. It is also a popular scenic drive alongside Lake Michigan. IDOT and CDOT's reconstruction of the Drive balanced these two demands by using a context-sensitive plan that not only
improved the roadway but enhanced the neighborhood. Notable elements
of the plan include a new roadway drainage system that has improved
water quality for Lake Michigan, new pedestrian underpasses, and
the restoration of the historic Animal Bridge.
Contact: Chris Wuellner, CDOT, 773-373-6246, ext. 17.
![South Lakes Shore Drive](images/slakeshoredr.jpg) |
South Lakes Shore Drive |
Category 2—The Rural Highway
I-35 Interchange at Medford, Minnesota, Minnesota Department
of Transportation (Mn/DOT)
Faced with an inadequate 1958 diamond interchange and two-lane
crossover bridge on Interstate 35 at Medford, Mn/DOT chose the innovative
solution of installing two roundabouts on either end of the bridge
to better handle the traffic and improve safety. Partnering with
the community resulted in a unique gateway into Medford, with such
architectural details as a red brick-patterned concrete surfacing
treatment to enhance the visual appeal of the roundabouts.
Contact: Scott Robinson, Mn/DOT, 651-284-3783.
![Roundabouts being used to improve traffic flow and safety](images/i35interchange.jpg) |
I-35 Interchange at Medford, Minnesota |
Category 3A—Major Highway Structures (Over $15 Million)
Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge, HNTB Corporation, Massachusetts
Turnpike Authority, and FIGG Engineering Group
Called the crown jewel of Boston's Central Artery/Tunnel Project,
the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge’s distinctive structural
form serves as a new gateway to the city. At 55 m (183 ft), the
Zakim Bridge is the widest cable-stayed bridge in the world. Stay
cable geometric refinements eliminated the need for external cable
anchorages at the bridge's towers, contributing to the compact,
clean lines of the bridge.
Contact: Ray McCabe, HNTB Corporation, 212-594-9717.
Category 3B—Major Highway Structures (Under $15 Million)
Olympia-Yashiro Friendship Bridge, City of Olympia, Washington;
T.Y. Lin International; and Hamilton Construction Company
The new Olympia-Yashiro Friendship Bridge replaces a historic structure
with a context-sensitive design developed after extensive public
participation. The bridge's artistic elements, including a border
of stone and pebble and sidewalk mosaics, complement the surrounding
environment.
Contact: Jay Burney, City of Olympia, 360-753-8740.
Category 4—Environmental Protection and Enhancement
Reconstruction of County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 15, Lake
County Highway Department, Minnesota
The 37-km (23-mi) reconstruction of CSAH 15 covers a portion of
the Superior National Forest Scenic Byway. The design helped to
minimize ground disturbance. In one section where earthmoving was
required, for example, a pond was created that now provides nesting
for the area’s wood turtle population.
Contact: Alan Goodman, Lake County Highway Department,
218-834-8380, ext. 1.
![County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 15](images/csah.jpg) |
County State Aid Highway (CSAH)
15 |
Category 5—Historic Preservation
Ocean-to-Ocean Highway Bridge, Yuma County Department of Development
Services, City of Yuma Department of Public Works, and Quechan Indian
Tribe
The Ocean-to-Ocean Bridge Rehabilitation Project reestablished
a vital and historically significant highway linkage across the
Colorado River between Arizona and California. Constructed in 1915,
the bridge provided the first safe, economical crossing of the river
at Yuma, but was closed to traffic in 1988 because of concerns about
its structural integrity. The rehabilitation project restored the
bridge to its original grandeur and improved traffic control so
that the bridge could be rated for highway traffic.
Contact: Roger A. Patterson, Yuma County, 928-329-2300.
![Ocean-to-Ocean Highway Bridge](images/oceantoocean.jpg) |
Ocean-to-Ocean Highway Bridge |
Category 6—Highway Related Projects
H. Dana Bowers Safety Roadside Rest Area, California Department
of Transportation (Caltrans)
The H. Dana Bowers Safety Roadside Rest Area and Vista Point is
located within the Marin Headlands, which is part of the Golden
Gate Recreation Area in San Francisco. The rehabilitation of the
Vista Point allows the site to better meet the requirements of its
2.5 million annual visitors, while remaining in harmony with its
National Park setting.
Contact: Lyle B. Oehler, Caltrans, 510-286-5918.
![H. Dana Bowers Safety Roadside Rest Area](images/restarea.jpg) |
H. Dana Bowers Safety
Roadside Rest Area |
Category 7—Intelligent Transportation Systems
Route 38 Crash Avoidance System, Pennsylvania Department of
Transportation (PENNDOT) and Trans Associates
To improve the safety of two intersections on State Route 38, PENNDOT
installed a Crash Avoidance System (CAS), which uses pavement sensors
to identify the presence of vehicles to motorists approaching the
intersection. Special crossroad warning signs display a "Traffic
Ahead" message and an LED picture of a car on the right and/or left
side of the sign, to let motorists know where the car is approaching
from. The CAS has been effective in both reducing accidents and
lowering the approach speeds of motorists.
Contact: Timothy R. Pieples, PENNDOT, 724-357-2819.
![Route 38 Crash Avoidance System](images/crashavoidancesys.jpg) |
Route 38 Crash Avoidance System
|
Category 8—Intermodal Transportation Facilities
Hiawatha Light Rail Line, Hiawatha Light Rail Transit, Mn/DOT,
and Metro Transit
Fifteen new transit stations for the Hiawatha Light Rail Line have
been designed by the top design firms in Minnesota, providing unique
buildings that reflect each neighborhood’s personality. The Franklin
Avenue Station, for example, is a bright cherry red arched structure
that both enhances the transportation system and symbolizes the
rejuvenation of the surrounding community.
Contact: Jennifer Lovaasen, Hiawatha Light Rail Transit,
612-215-8201.
![Hiawatha Light Rail Line](images/lightrailline.jpg) |
Hiawatha Light Rail Line |
Category 9—Highway Improvements on Publicly Owned Land
Grand Loop Road, FHWA Western Federal Lands Highway Division
Office and Yellowstone National Park
For FHWA and Yellowstone National Park, improving a 15.6-km (9.7-mi)
segment of the Grand Loop Road Historic District in the Park meant
balancing the need to widen the road, originally built for Model
T's, while avoiding or minimizing any impact to the Park resources.
Roadside impacts were mitigated during construction through such
techniques as conserving topsoil in small windrows along the slopes,
which easily allowed for replacement of the topsoil in the location
where it was removed.
Contact: Craig S. Dewey, FHWA, 360-619-7702.
![Grand Loop Road](images/grandlooprd.jpg) |
Grand Loop Road |
Merit Award Winners
Category 1
Route 21 Freeway Extension, New Jersey Department of Transportation
(NJDOT)
The completion of the Route 21 freeway extension has provided the
final link in the regional roadway network that serves northeast
New Jersey. The project included the widening and reconstruction
of a historic arch bridge over the Passaic River.
Contact: Steven J. Manera, NJDOT, 609-530-2460.
I-5, Oregon Highway 217/Kruse Way Interchange, Oregon Department
of Transportation (ODOT), Region 1
This project addressed traffic congestion and safety problems at
the busiest interchange in Oregon. A major feature of the project
was the construction of a sweeping fly-over ramp that has an adjacent
bicycle and pedestrian bridge.
Contact: Steven M. Harry, ODOT, 503-731-3490.
Category 2
Highway M-63 Reconstruction Project, Michigan Department of
Transportation (MDOT); Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc.;
and Soil and Materials Engineers, Inc.
This reconstruction project improved Highway M-63 for motorists,
reduced bridge and highway maintenance costs, and enhanced the area
for brownfield redevelopment.
Contact: Stephen C. Nichols, Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr
& Huber, Inc., 616-575-3824.
Reconstruction of Trunk Highway 22, Mn/DOT, District 7
The reconstruction of Trunk Highway 22 balanced safety and mobility
needs with community and environmental values, while also integrating
visual and aesthetic considerations. The Minnesota River Bridge
was widened, for example, to meet current design standards and to
provide for a bicycle and pedestrian trail that can also serve as
a snowmobile trail during the winter months.
Contact: Scott Bradley, Mn/DOT, 651-284-3758.
Category 3A
Sixth Street Viaduct, City of Milwaukee; Wisconsin Department
of Transportation, District 2; and Milwaukee County
The replacement of the deteriorating Sixth Street Viaduct in downtown
Milwaukee was the first design-build transportation project in the
State. The Viaduct now features twin high-performance concrete cable-stayed
bridges, which are a new landmark in the downtown area.
Contact: Brian Swenson, HNTB Corporation, 414-359-2300.
New Carquinez Suspension Bridge, FCI Constructors, Inc./Cleveland
Bridge California, Inc.; Parsons; and Caltrans
The New Carquinez Suspension Bridge links the California Central
Valley to the San Francisco Bay Area, replacing a bridge built in
1927. The sixth longest bridge span in the United States and the
first suspension bridge built in this country in more than 35 years,
the new bridge has a light, open structure.
Contact: John E. Hill, FCI Constructors, Inc., 707-742-6017.
Category 3B
U.S. Route 20 Bridge over Eighteen Mile Creek, New York State
Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), Region 5
Eligible for the National Historic Register, this 1927 open-spandrel
arch bridge had seriously deteriorated and had load restrictions.
To rehabilitate it, the NYSDOT had to use modern materials and methods,
while not significantly altering the appearance of the structure.
For example, designers installed precast concrete fascia panels
to mimic the look of the original spandrel arches.
Contact: Keith Baran, NYSDOT, 716-847-3203.
Replacement of Route 8 Bridge over the Hudson River, NYSDOT,
Region 1, and Barton & Loquidice, P.C.
This truss structure replaced a Pennsylvania camel-back steel truss
that had been built in 1919. The new truss is of similar shape and
color, so as to integrate visually with the rich historic and scenic
surroundings of the Adirondack region.
Contact: Angelo M. Trichilo, NYSDOT, 518-388-0252.
Category 4
Texas Right-of-Ways, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT),
Maintenance Division, Vegetation Management Section
Since 1927, TxDOT's Wildflower Program has strived to establish
right-of-ways that blend into their surroundings, not only helping
highways to look good, but also reducing the cost of maintenance
by encouraging the growth of native wildflower species that need
less care.
Contact: Dennis Markwardt, TxDOT, 512-416-3093.
Bat Protection Program, Sacramento County Department of Transportation
and Sacramento County Department of Environmental Review and Assessment
Early in the planning of the Franklin Avenue Bridge Replacement
Project, it was discovered that the bridge provides habitat for
a maternal colony of approximately 40,000 Mexican free-tailed bats.
County staff developed an aggressive bat-protection program, which
included building temporary bat houses during demolition of the
old bridge and incorporating bat housing into the design and construction
of the new bridge.
Contact: Dave Franke, Sacramento County Department of
Transportation, 916-874-6673.
Annsville Creek Paddlesport Center, NYSDOT, Region 8, and New
York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation
To improve public acccess to the Hudson River, the NYSDOT transformed
part of its maintenance yard into a waterfront park, which includes
a boat launch and three cantilevered decks for recreational fishing
and wildlife observation.
Contact: William Gorton, NYSDOT, 845-431-5848.
Category 5
Mill Ruins Park, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and
URS, Inc.
Mill Ruins Park serves as the centerpiece of the revitalized Minneapolis
West Side Milling District. The park’s features include the Canal
Plank Road, whose durable white oak surfacing follows the alignment
of the original wood-plank decking that once covered the main inflow
canal that powered the Milling District.
Contact: Rachel Ramadhyani, Minneapolis Park and Recreation
Board, 612-230-6470.
Oak Forest Bridge, TxDOT and A/P Resources, Inc.
To preserve the Oak Forest Bridge, built in 1913, TxDOT relocated
the structure from the Guadalupe River in Gonzalez County to Kerr
Creek in the City of Gonzalez. While the bridge could no longer
meet modern traffic requirements in its previous location, now it
safely accommodates bikes and pedestrians.
Contact: Charles E. Walker, TxDOT, 512-416-2272.
Orr Roadside Parking Area Rehabilitation, Mn/DOT
Designed in 1937, the Orr Roadside Parking Area (RPA) was listed
on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. Mn/DOT's rehabilitation
of the RPA retained its distinctive Rustic style, while improving
safety for travelers.
Contact: Liz Walton, Mn/DOT, 651-296-0295.
Category 6
I-26 Welcome Center, North Carolina Department of Transportation
(NCDOT)
Located in the Appalachian Mountains of Madison County, the I-26
Welcome Center was built on a site containing more than 4 million
cubic yards of waste material from the grading of I-26. The overlook
provides stunning views of the Black Mountains and Mount Mitchell,
while native vegetation around the Welcome Center enhances the beauty
of the site.
Contact: John Lansford, NCDOT, 919-250-4016.
Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail–Akron Segment, Environmental
Design Group, Inc.; City of Akron, Ohio; and Metro Parks
The Ohio and Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor is a 177-km
(110-mi) long continuous greenway. The Akron segment of the Corridor
connects an urban population with this important natural resource.
Contact: Dennis J. Mersky, Environmental Design Group,
Inc., 330-375-1390.
Category 7
Bay Area Incident Response System (BAIRS), Caltrans
BAIRS is an incident tracking system that helps Caltrans quickly
identify and respond to traffic incidents in the Bay Area. It is
expected to reduce the average traffic incident resolution time
from 4 hours to 90 minutes or less.
Contact: Robert E. Rosevear, Caltrans, 510-286-5445.
Category 8
High Point Train Station, City of High Point, North Carolina,
and the NCDOT Rail Division
Built in 1907, the High Point Train Station has been restored to
its original beauty, offering a convenient and comfortable multimodal
facility for train and bus passengers.
Contact: Craig M. Newton, NCDOT Rail Division, 919-733-7245,
ext. 253.
SR 90 and SR 519 Intermodal Access, Phase 1, Washington State
Department of Transportation (WSDOT)
Phase 1 of this project provides a direct connection from I-90
to the Seattle waterfront, including such sites as the Pioneer Square
Historic District.
Contact: Bruce Nebbitt, WSDOT, 206-464-1363.
Category 9
Blue Lakes Road, FHWA Central Federal Lands Highway Division
Office and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
The reconstructed California Forest Highway 134 (Blue Lakes Road)
now meets modern roadway standards, with a design that has improved
access to the many scenic areas of Alpine County, while still protecting
the mountain environment.
Contact: Larry Smith, FHWA, 303-963-3448.
Hanalei Bridge, State of Hawaii Department of Transportation
(HDOT), Highways Division, and Wilson Okamoto Corporation
The new Hanalei Bridge in Kauai retains the historic look of the
original 1912 structure, while improving safety and increasing strength
and durability.
Contact: Steven M. Kyono, HDOT, 808-274-3111.
Honorable Mention
Category 1
Watt Avenue Improvement Project, Sacramento County Department
of Transportation, Nolle and Associates, and MCM Construction, Inc.;
Ferry Street from the Mississippi River Bridge to US Highway 10,
Mn/DOT and the City of Anoka, Minnesota
Category 2
Searsburg-Wilmington NH F010-1(18), J.A. McDonald Inc., Vermont
Agency of Transportation (VTrans), and Gary DuBray, SET; I-26–Buncombe
and Madison Counties, NCDOT; Cushing Creek, Caltrans, Sierra Club,
and Redwood National & State Park
Category 3
3A: US 64/NC 264, NCDOT; US 20 Iowa River Bridge, Iowa Department
of Transportation, HNTB Corporation, and Jensen Construction.
3B: Keslinger/Peck Grade Separation, Kane County, IL, Division
of Transportation, Teng & Associates, and Robert H. Anderson
& Associates; Germantown Avenue over Wissahickon Creek, City
of Philadelphia, URS Corporation, Inc., and Neshaminy Constructors
Category 4
Gray County Safety Rest Area, TxDOT; Jackson Creek Scarp and
Fish Passage Project, ODOT
Category 5
King of Prussia Inn Relocation, FHWA, PENNDOT, and URS Corporation
Category 6
Ten Mile River Bikeway Segment 5, Rhode Island Department of Transportation, United International Corporation, and J.H. Lynch & Sons, Inc; Ray Road Pedestrian Bridge at Thunderhill, SVR, Inc., and City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department; Winooski River Trail Bridge, VTrans, Town of Colchester, and City of Burlington
Category 8
Well's Regional Transportation Center, Maine Turnpike Authority and HNTB Corporation; Southwest Station (MN), Southwest Metro Transit Authority, North American Properties, and LSA Design, Inc.
Category 9
US 59–Southwest Freeway at the Brazos River, TxDOT; Mesa Falls Scenic Byway (ID), FHWA, Western Federal Lands Highway Division Office