Erie County Route 62 Reconstruction Project a Top Ten Finalist for 'People's Choice' National Award

ALBANY, NY (10/14/2010)(readMedia)-- New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Acting Commissioner Stanley Gee today announced that a $23 million project to reconstruct U.S. Route 62 and State Route 391 in Hamburg, Erie County, is a Top 10 finalist in the 2010 America's Transportation Awards competition, and is in the running for the People's Choice Award, chosen by public vote over the Internet.

"This outstanding safety project has significantly reduced accidents and eased congestion through the busy Route 62 corridor," Acting Commissioner Gee said. "This project not only improves safety, but supports local economic development. I appreciate all the feedback and involvement of the community which helped to guide the Department in its decisions about this project without which we might not have even been nominated for this prestigious award. I also commend the DOT regional staff who worked on it, and urge the public to vote to bring this national award home to Western New York."

The People's Choice Award will be selected through an online vote at www.americastransportationaward.org. Voting is open through October 18, after which a panel of judges will select the America's Transportation Awards' Grand Prize. The annual award program is supported by the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), AAA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Nearly two miles of Route 62 (Main Street) and Route 391 (Buffalo Street), both major arterial highways that encompass the historic downtown area of the village, were reconstructed as part of the project. The work included the construction of new pavement, curbs and sidewalks, and installation of decorative lighting and traffic signals. Four modern roundabouts were constructed, eliminating the need for six signalized intersections. The roundabouts were incorporated as a traffic calming initiative to reduce vehicle speed through the business area of the village and to promote a more pedestrian-friendly community. The project was initiated to address pavement deterioration and safety concerns.

The project, constructed by Concrete Applied Technology Corporation (CATCO) of Alden, Erie County, began in the spring of 2007 and was completed in the fall of 2008, one year ahead of schedule.

The Route 62 reconstruction project was honored in June by the Northeast Association of State Transportation Officials as the Innovative Management, Small Project winner, while a project to replace the bridge carrying State Route 19 over the Genesee River in Belmont, Allegany County, was honored in the Under Budget, Small Project category. The 10 highest scoring projects from regional competitions across the country are now competing for the Grand Prize and the People's Choice Award, both of which will be presented at the AASHTO Annual Meeting on October 31 and both of which offer $10,000 cash prizes.

Nationally, a total of 43 projects were judged in four categories, including "Best Recovery Act," "On Time," "Under Budget" and "Innovative Management."

In 2009, a New York State project to reconstruct the Interstate 86 interchange in Corning, Steuben County, was a Top 10 finalist in the competition's "On Budget: Enhancing Value" category.

###