A Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) project that replaced the Dover Bridge swing bridge with a new, revitalized fixed-span bridge has just been named one of 12 finalists for the prestigious 2019 America’s Transportation Award. The award is presented annually by the American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the premier organization for transportation officials in the U.S. Additionally, the Dover Bridge project can compete for the national People’s Choice Award, in which online voting determines the winner.
On July 10, the project won the Quality of Life/Community Development Award presented by AASHTO’s regional arm, the Northeast Association of State Transportation Officials (NASTO). After evaluating submissions from its regional chapters, AASHTO announced on August 23 that the MDOT SHA project had been elevated to the national competition.
By earning a place as an America’s Transportation Awards finalist, the project is in the running for two prizes: The Grand Prize and the People’s Choice Award. Both awards include a $10,000 cash prize that can be donated to a charity or transportation-related scholarship. The winner will be announced at the AASHTO Annual Meeting in St. Louis on October 8.
“The Dover Bridge project exemplifies our commitment to delivering the best possible customer experience across the State during all stages of project development – from design to construction. Completed a year early, this bridge provided much need relief to two Maryland counties, which for decades were impacted by bridge openings that stalled local traffic and delayed emergency response,” said MDOT SHA Administrator Greg Slater. “We are extremely proud of this project that delivered a new bridge to the communities and encourage everyone to vote for this project for the People’s Choice Award. Just go online to AmericasTransportationAwards.
The $65.4 million Dover Bridge Project along MD 331 on the Eastern Shore replaced an historic swing bridge that, when opened for river traffic, rerouted drivers up to 45 minutes out of their way. These openings impacted residents’ mobility and could delay emergency responders. The new bridge, completed a full year ahead of schedule, has two 12-foot-wide lanes and two 8-foot-wide shoulders. The 50-foot-high, fixed-span bridge allows marine vessels to pass without impeding motorists. The original bridge has been retained as a community fishing pier.
An independent panel of transportation industry experts will select the Grand Prize winner, while the general public will decide the People’s Choice Award winner through online voting. Online votes will be weighted to each state’s population, allowing for greater competition between states with larger and smaller populations.
Online voting begins today and ends at 11:59 p.m. eastern time on Sunday, Oct. 6. Cast your vote at https://
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