The Northeastern Association of State Transportation Officials awarded the I-95 Mainline Widening Project with the Regional America’s Transportation Award.
The project, undertaken by The Delaware Department of Transportation, added a fifth lane in both the northbound and southbound directions in the Churchmans Marsh area.
The project utilized an innovative cost-plus-time bid, finishing 18 months ahead of schedule and $8 million under budget. The $57 million project was completed between May 2007 and October 2008.
The winning project was selected based on achievement of process management, quality assurance, effective schedule management, community involvement and outreach and improved traffic movement to users. The I-95 Mainline Widening Project topped projects submitted by Washington, D.C., New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
“Traffic volumes on I-95 are exceeding our wildest predictions: 2010 estimates were reached by 1995. Despite the challenges, DelDOT staff and the contractors made a tough widening project appear easy with a very cost competitive bid. We also created 6 acres of new wetlands along the Christiana River, where bald eagles have since nested,” said DelDOT Secretary Carolann Wicks.
