Date:
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Contact:
Paul Mahre, Highways & Local Programs Engineer (509) 667-3090 (Wenatchee)
Jeff Adamson, WSDOT Communications, (509) 667-2815 (Wenatchee)
BREWSTER - The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) have chosen the Main Avenue Reconstruction project in Brewster to receive the “Director’s Award” of their 2006 Awards of Excellence. The awards recognize the "best of the best" of local agency-administered federal aid transportation projects.
The Main Avenue Reconstruction project revitalized Brewster’s downtown appeal and improved access and functionality to its entire transportation system. The project provided bulb-out curbs and ramps making streets and sidewalks more accessible to persons with disabilities. Decorative street lighting, a new storm drain system and full sidewalks were also added.
Three WSDOT public meetings provided input about the needs as well as ways to minimize impacts to businesses and traffic. One need that was identified, wider shoulders on State Route 173 to increase pedestrian safety, was outside the project parameters. But WSDOT was able to obtain the additional funding to include the shoulder widening into the project. This $1.7 million project came in on time and on budget as a result of the successful partnership of the City of Brewster, Okanogan County, FHWA, WSDOT, and the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board (TIB).
WSDOT’s Highways & Local Programs group administers the annual Excellence awards. They are presented to local agencies in order to recognize projects of high quality, to reward exceptional coordination, efforts, perseverance and to honor projects which serve as a model for the state.
Other Excellence Award winners:
Best City Project: City of Prosser Wine Country Road Project
Best County Project: Skagit County Main Street Reconstruction Project
Best Special Project: City of Snohomish Riverfront Trail Project
For more information about the 2006 Excellence Awards, visit our Web site: www.wsdot.wa.gov/TA/Awards/
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