September 9, 2009 -- The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) announced today that work on M-115 in Clare County was selected by AAA, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) as one of America's 10 best transportation projects.
Named in the "innovative management" category of the national competition, the M-115 project involved upgrading 5.5 miles of a rural two-lane highway from Lake Station Avenue to the Osceola/Clare county line. Work included resurfacing, intersection drainage improvements, guardrail upgrades, and bridge replacements. MDOT invested approximately $4.5 million to repair M-115.
"This is an excellent example of MDOT and the Bay Region's commitment to finding innovative solutions to transportation challenges," said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. "Being named one of the country's top 10 highway projects says a great deal about the professionalism of MDOT employees and their ability to think outside the box to make transportation improvements that increase safety and relieve congestion."
The M-115 project used several innovative construction techniques, including pre-cast bridge construction, self-adjusting temporary signals, temporary object markers to eliminate vehicle run offs, and a best value award process that took mobility and construction staging, along with safety and cost, into account. Overall, traffic delays during construction averaged two minutes, 16 seconds. Central Asphalt of Mt. Pleasant was the contractor on the project.
MDOT's M-115 project is now eligible to compete for the America's Transportation Awards Grand Prize, which will be determined by independent judging and will be presented at the AASHTO annual meeting on Oct. 25, in Palm Desert, Calif. The top 10 projects also will compete for the People's Choice Award, which will be decided by popular vote. Online voting is now under way at the competition's official Web site through Oct. 23 at www.americastransportationaward.org.
The M-115 project was accomplished with a $1 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration's Highways for Life safety program. The first Highways for Life initiative in the state of Michigan, this Clare County project - completed 20 days ahead of schedule - has significantly improved pavement condition and safety on M-115.
The Highways for Life safety program makes grants available to demonstrate and promote innovations in highway construction. The program rewards innovation that improves the quality and durability of the roadway. Highways for Life initiatives are funded through a discretionary program of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: a Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). The federal transportation funding bill passed by Congress and signed by the president in 2005, SAFETEA-LU authorizes funding for fiscal years 2005 through 2009.
For up-to-date information on MDOT projects, go to the list of statewide lane closures at: www.michigan.gov/drive. Follow MDOT at www.twitter.com/MichiganDOT or visit the "Michigan Department of Transportation" page on Facebook and become a fan.
MDOT: Working to improve our state roads and bridges.
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