(May 26, 2022) – Improvements to the I-81 dual bridges over the Potomac River, installation of “Smart Pond” technology at three Maryland sites and the modernization of the Kirk Bus Division in Baltimore were among Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) projects honored this week by the Maryland Quality Initiative (MdQI) for 2021. In all, MDOT and its partners received 14 awards for outstanding planning and construction projects from MdQI at its annual conference and awards event, held May 26 at the Baltimore Convention Center.
“Across all of our departments and every transportation mode, MDOT is dedicated to deliver quality projects that serve our customers’ needs,” said MDOT Secretary James F. Ports, Jr., who attended the ceremony with leaders from MDOT State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA), MDOT Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA), MDOT Maryland Aviation Administration (MDOT MAA), MDOT Maryland Port Administration (MDOT MPA) and the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA).
“Maintaining and enhancing Maryland’s transportation network requires commitment and collaboration, and it’s an honor to be recognized by the Maryland Quality Initiative for the exceptional work we and our partners delivered in 2021,” Secretary Ports added
MdQI is a consortium of public and private sector agencies and industry associations representing Maryland’s transportation industry. The organization advocates for the highest quality in planning, design, construction, and maintenance of Maryland’s transportation system. Since its founding in 1993, MdQI has expanded its mission and activities to include all MDOT units, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, local government transportation and public works agencies, and industry associations. For more information, visit MdQI.org.
Each year, a panel of experts evaluate Award of Excellence nominations. For 2021, MdQI presented awards in the following categories: Planning Award; Green/Sustainability/Environmental Award; Partnering Awards (private/public sector teams); Innovation Award; Modal/Public Works Awards for projects Under $5 Million and Over $5 Million; and top awards for MdQI Project of the Year Under $5 Million and MdQI Project of the Year Over $5 Million.
The following MDOT projects and business units were recognized:
The MDTA’s $188.6 million replacement of the steel bridge on I-895 near the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel captured two awards – a Modal Award for Projects Over $5 Million, and MdQI Project of the Year Over $5 Million.
MDOT SHA’s $89.3 million I-81 improvement project, which included widening and superstructure replacement of the I-81 dual bridges over the Potomac River in Washington County, Md. and Berkeley County, W.Va., also reaped two awards – a Modal Award for Projects Over $5 Million and a Partnering Award for Projects Over $10 Million.
A $1.1 million project to replace three drainage structures along Dulaney Valley Road near Loch Raven Reservoir in Baltimore County netted MDOT SHA a Partnering Award Under $5 Million.
MDOT SHA’s $8 million replacement of bridge along MD 355 over Little Bennett Creek in Montgomery County won a Partnering Award in the $5 Million to $10 Million category.
And the $789,000 project to replace a culvert over Wilson Run in Oakland, Garrett County, won MDOT SHA and its partners a Modal Award for Projects Under $5 Million.
The MDOT Secretary’s Office received an Innovation Award for its $3.1 million Smart Ponds project, which installed monitoring and adaptive control features at stormwater ponds in Aberdeen, Hagerstown and Fruitland to increase retention time and water quality.
MDOT MPA won a Planning award for its development of a digital database to track conditions of its terminal lots to predict and plan rehabilitation and repair efforts.
MDOT MPA also captured a Modal Award for Projects Under $5 Million for the demolition and replacement of the vehicle entrance/exit gate at the Dundalk Marine Terminal.
A $1.2 million project to replace two culverts between the main parking lot and overflow lot at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport received a Modal Award for Projects Under $5 Million for MDOT MAA.
MDOT MAA also captured a Modal Award for Projects Over $5 Million for its $6.6 million project at BWI Marshall to relocate and/or re-designate several taxiways.
MDOT MTA won a Modal Award for Projects Over $5 Million for its $63.7 million project to modernize the Kirk Bus Division in Baltimore with new bus storage, fueling, washing and radio facilities, as well as new support offices.
And the $2.5 million North Avenue Rising Penn North Metro Station Improvements project in Baltimore earned MDOT MTA a Modal Award for Projects Under $5 Million.
In addition to MDOT MAA, MDOT MPA, MDOT MTA, MDOT MVA, MDOT SHA and the MDTA, the MdQI consortium includes: the MDOT MVA Maryland Highway Safety Office, the American Concrete Pavement Association, the American Council of Engineering Companies – Maryland, the Baltimore City DOT, the County Engineers Association of Maryland, the Federal Highway Administration - Maryland Division, the Maryland Asphalt Association, the Maryland Ready Mix Concrete Association, and the Maryland Transportation Builders and Materials Association.