In the Mid America region, nine states nominated 19 projects, with six state DOTs taking home the following eight America’s Transportation Awards.

Indiana Department of Transportation — Grand Valley Boulevard Bridge (Quality of Life/Community Development, Small category—TIE)

Kansas Department of Transportation — Kidron Loop Trail (Quality of Life/Community Development, Small category—TIE)

Ohio Department of Transportation — Charles Berry Memorial Bascule Bridge Rehabilitation (Quality of Life/Community Development, Medium category)

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet — Brent Spence Bridge Emergency Repair Project (Operations Excellence, Small category)

Kansas Department of Transportation — Turner Diagonal Project (Operations Excellence, Medium category)

Wisconsin Department of Transportation — I-94 North South Freeway Project (Operations Excellence, Large category)

Ohio Department of Transportation — Increasing Safety and Efficiency with Ohio’s Unmanned Aerial Systems Center (Best Use of Technology & Innovation, Small category)

Illinois Department of Transportation — Remaking I-255 in the Metro East (Best Use of Technology & Innovation, Medium category)

More on America’s Transportation Awards categories:

          • Community Development/Quality of Life – Recognizes projects that provide significant benefits to the communities in which they are located, especially in the form of economic growth and the well-being of citizens.

          • Best Use of Technology – Recognizes the use of new technology and creative solutions implemented by a state DOT.

          • Operations Excellence – Recognizes projects that deliver a more reliable, well-functioning, and safer transportation system through operational solutions.

The three highest-scoring projects from each regional competition earn a place on a “Top 12” list of projects that will compete for the national Grand Prize – selected by an independent panel of industry judges – and the People’s Choice Award, chosen by the general public through online voting. In addition, those top national winners each receive $10,000 cash awards to be donated to a charity or scholarship of the state DOT’s choosing.

The 12 finalists will be announced and online voting for the People’s Choice Award will begin later this month. Both the People’s Choice Award and the Grand Prize will be announced this October at the AASHTO Annual Meeting in San Diego. Visit https://americastransportationawards.org/ to learn more about this year’s nominees and to view the awards presentation.