Two Georgia Department of Transportation projects are regional winners in the 2016 America’s Transportation Awards, a national competition recognizing excellence in transportation projects that improve travel safety, reduce roadway congestion and provide more travel options to consumers.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials presented the awards on August 30 at the Southern Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials conference in West Virginia.

Georgia DOT won in the Best Use of Innovation category/small-project for reconstruction of the Broad Avenue Memorial Bridge in Albany. The $14 million project replaced an aging bridge over the Flint River to increase access, safety and mobility while preserving its historic character. The bridge’s main span is the longest concrete girder bridge span in Georgia and the state’s first use of the segmental balanced cantilever construction method, which expedited construction, minimized impacts and restored needed connectivity. The project added bike lanes, sidewalks, lighting and other aesthetic features to enhance safety and the travel experience. The bridge exemplifies how the department and residents worked together to preserve the park, river views and the crossing’s history, while continuing to honor World War I veterans.

In the Under Budget category, Georgia DOT won with a small project to rebuild Brown Avenue Bridge in Columbus. The $8.5 million project reconstructed two bridges along Brown Avenue—one over Bragg Street and another over the Norfolk Southern Railroad—to improve safety and mobility while increasing access for intermodal travel. The new bridges were built to accommodate taller emergency response vehicles, buses and heavy trucks, as well as with
sidewalks and pedestrian ramps to improve non-motorized travel into the neighborhood. The project was completed $400,000 under budget.

Now in its ninth year, the America’s Transportation Awards competition is sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the AAA motor club and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

“We are building and maintaining a transportation system that enhances quality of life and helps develop communities to strengthen our economy and boost our nation’s ability to remain competitive,” said AASHTO President Paul Trombino. “These awards highlight our members’ efforts and showcase best practices that are benefiting communities every single day.”

The regional projects receiving the highest overall scores will compete for a National Grand Prize to be determined by a panel of transportation experts, and a People's Choice Award will be decided by online public votes. The top projects will be announced and voting for the People's Choice Award will begin Sept. 7.