The Western Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (WASHTO) recognized the South Dakota Department of Transportation’s efforts on I-90 this week, naming them a regional winner in Operations Excellence.
The project, which took place in Spearfish, South Dakota, focused on I-90’s Exit 14. Its diamond-style interchange was replaced with a single point interchange to increase capacity and improve traffic flow. An additional one mile of I-90 itself was rebuilt and lowered to give greater vertical clearance under that new exit as well. It was supplemented with new traffic signals, a signal bridge and improvements to pedestrian and bicycle access.
“The Spearfish Exit 14 project was definitely a challenge for the department, the city and for motorists before and during construction,” Darin Bergquist, South Dakota Secretary of Transportation, said. “By working together, utilizing innovative construction techniques and recognizing the need for more efficient and safer access, we were able to deliver an excellent project that will serve the Black Hills and the city of Spearfish for many years to come.”
In all, WASHTO officials found that the project has improved travel safety, eased traffic congestion, and expanded mobility options. For its region, the South Dakota DOT project took home the top award in the Operations Excellence, for medium size projects — projects that range from $26 million to $199 million. Other available awards included Quality of Life/Community Development and Best Use of Technology and Innovation.
The top 12 projects from the nation’s four regions are still competing for a grand prize and a People’s Choice Award, each of which could win $10,000 to be donated to a charity of scholarship of their choosing.