Delaware's People Choice Award Contest

I-95 Widening Nominated as 2009 America's Transportation Award

Dover -- Delaware's Transportation Secretary Carolann Wicks and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) are campaigning Delawareans to get out the vote to support the I-95 5th Lane Widening Project in a national "People's Choice Award" contest.

The I-95 Mainline Widening Project is one of the ten finalists for the "Grand Prize" in the 2009 National Achievement Award for an on-time, medium-sized project. In addition to the "Grand Prize," AASHTO will also present a "People's Choice Award" to the state that can gather the largest number of votes supporting their state's project.

The project, which added a fifth lane to I-95 in both the northbound and southbound directions in the Churchmans Marsh area, was constructed between May 2007 and October 2008.

"This national recognition as being one of ten finalists for the '2009 American's Transportation Award' demonstrates the state's commitment to provide Delawareans and travelers to our state, both the safest and most up-to-date highway system possible," says Transportation Secretary Carolann Wicks. "The top ten projects are also competing among the other nominees for the 'People's Choice Award,' which will be decided by popular vote."

Secretary Wicks continues; "Now is the time for Delawareans to show their support and pride for what we have accomplished. We are asking everyone; elected officials, state employees, private industry, and citizens, to vote and let the nation know how proud they are for our state, the nomination we received, and the transformation that took place along the I-95 Corridor within Delaware."

In announcing the nomination, AASHTO cited that Delaware has demonstrated innovation in utilizing a cost-plus-time bid, finishing 18 months ahead of schedule and $8 million under the engineer's original estimate. On-line voting is now underway at the competition's official website through October 23, 2009: www.americastransportationaward.org.

"These nominees represent the best and the brightest for 2009. Your project is now vying for one of two top prizes: The 'Grand Prize' and the 'People's Choice Awards,'" says Sherry, Conway Appel, AASHTO's National Marketing Manager. "Both winning projects will receive a substantial cash prize, which will go toward a charity or scholarship of the state's choosing. The "Grand Prize" will be determined by an independent judging panel, the "People's Choice Award" will be selected through on-line voting. Voting continues through October 23, 2009. The winners will be announced at the AASHTO Annual Meeting on October 25, 2009.

Richard E. Pierson Construction Company, Inc. of Swedesboro, N.J., executed the $57 million I-95 Mainline Widening project. The widening project is part of a multi-year, multi-project Interstate Improvement Program that has included work at the Churchmans Road/Route 7 intersection and the Churchmans Road Bridge over I-95; and will also include the upcoming work at the Route 1/I-95 interchange and the I-95 Toll Plaza in Newark. RKK, DMJM Harris, Century Engineering, and KCI Technologies also worked on the project.