NYSDOT Honored At Annual Construction Conference

ALBANY, NY (12/12/2013)(readMedia)-- New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Commissioner Joan McDonald today announced receipt of four awards from the Associated General Contractors (AGC NYS) at the industry's annual construction conference held this morning in Saratoga Springs, Saratoga County. NYSDOT was honored with two Excellence in Partnering awards and two Honorable Mention awards.

"It is a privilege to work with a highly talented staff and to partner with some of the transportation industry's best construction firms in order to reach Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's goal of increasing the safety of our roads and bridges while bolstering local and regional economies by providing an efficient transportation system," Commissioner McDonald said. "These four awards are a testament to the type of great projects that can be completed when we work together for the people of New York State to deliver creative transportation solutions."

Awards given at this morning's ceremony included:

• Excellence in Partnering - Formal Partnering: NYSDOT Region 11 (NYC) and CCA Civil/Halmar International, LLC for rehabilitation of the Alexander Hamilton Bridge and Highbridge Ramps, New York and Bronx counties.

The Alexander Hamilton Bridge (AHB) carries eight lanes of Interstate 95 traffic over the Harlem River, between the Boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx, linking the George Washington Bridge and the Cross Bronx Expressway. The 2,375 foot bridge, with a 550- foot main arch span, carries an average of 190,000 vehicles each day. It was opened in 1963, and this was the first major rehabilitation project. The bridge includes numerous ramps connecting the bridge to the Harlem River Drive and the nearby Washington (181st Street) Bridge, and a system of ramps connecting to the Interstate 87 Major Deegan Expressway. At the time it was bid, the $407 million AHB project was the largest single-contract construction project ever undertaken by NYSDOT.

• Informal Partnering: NYSDOT Region 10 (Long Island) and Posillico Civil, Greenman Pedersen, L. K. McLean Associates for the NY Works design-build contract to replace six bridge decks in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

The NY Works design-build project replaced the bridge decks, modified back walls and wing walls, repaired or replaced bearings, and repaired steel. Nassau and Suffolk counties are highly developed suburban environments, and all six bridges either carry heavy volumes of traffic or cross over heavily travelled roads, including three bridges over the Long Island Expressway and one over the Sunrise Highway.

• Honorable Mention: NYSDOT Region 6 (Hornell) and Cold Spring Construction Company for NY Works bridge deck replacements in Steuben and Chemung counties.

• Honorable Mention: NYSDOT Region 4 (Rochester) and Ramsey Constructors for a NY Works design-build project to improve access to and from Interstate 390 at Interchange 16 in Rochester, Monroe County.

Three of the projects honored were funded through Governor Cuomo's NY Works initiative, which focuses on improving roads and bridges that are in fair condition and bringing them to good condition. This work will better preserve the state's infrastructure and guard against the need for more costly, in-depth construction.

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