PITTSBURGH, Pa., Aug. 31, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, consulting, planning, technical and professional services, is earning high praise from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) as the organization prepares to announce the winners of the 2015 America's Transportation Awards. Two of Michael Baker's notable projects - the I-15 US-91/1100 South Interchange in Brigham City, Utah; and the Milton-Madison Bridge along the Ohio River in Indiana and Kentucky - are among the top 10 finalists for this year's competition.
"Michael Baker International engineered a measurable and positive impact on the daily commutes of tens of thousands of people with both the Milton-Madison Bridge and the I-15 southern freeway interchange in Utah. In both cases, we have developed innovative, time- and cost-efficient solutions to very meaningful transportation infrastructure challenges," said Kurt Bergman, CEO of Michael Baker International. "Our full continuum of innovative solutions, our global reach and our local focus enable our collaborative teams to produce industry-leading results, and we're proud to join our partners in earning this nomination."
In Indiana and Kentucky, Michael Baker experts worked closely with the departments of transportation in both states on the preliminary design and construction oversight of a $103-million project to replace the Milton-Madison Bridge, which crosses the Ohio River between Milton, Kentucky and Madison, Indiana. Opened in 1929, the bridge had become structurally deficient.
Michael Baker's engineers identified a way to reuse the existing bridge piers, thereby saving millions of dollars and reducing the environmental impact of the project. Crews constructed the new half-mile truss bridge alongside the original span, demolished the old bridge and then slid the new steel truss bridge onto the original piers, which had been reinforced during reconstruction.
Planning for the project began in 2008, and the new bridge opened to traffic in April 2014.
The project has already won accolades from the American Society of Highway Engineers, Roads and Bridges magazine and Popular Science.
In Brigham City, Utah, Michael Baker professionals partnered with the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) to replace a 40-year-old interchange that carries 20,000 vehicles per day.
The $14-million project involved a number of innovative solutions. This included the installation of a diverging diamond interchange that utilized the majority of the existing ramp infrastructure. It also involved the use of Geofoam fill (made of expanded polystyrene) to eliminate the settlement of poor soil. Crews installed two new bridges with specially designed column abutments to tie into the Geofoam and provide seismic stability for the bridges.
UDOT and Michael Baker's comprehensive solution reduced the project schedule by two years and trimmed the cost to a fraction of the price tag for full reconstruction of the interchange. The solution has also dramatically decreased traffic congestion and increased safety during peak periods.
AASHTO has appointed a panel of experts to select the grand prize winner for the 2015 America's Transportation Awards. Online voting will determine the recipient of the People's Choice Award. Voting runs through Friday, September 11. AASHTO will announce both the Grand Prize and the People's Choice awards at the organization's annual meeting in Chicago on Sunday, September 27.
AASHTO, the American Automobile Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are co-sponsors of America's Transportation Awards.
About Michael Baker International
Michael Baker International is a leading global provider of engineering and consulting services, which include planning, architectural, environmental, construction, program management, and full life cycle support services as well as information technology and communications services and solutions. The company provides its comprehensive range of services and solutions in support of U.S. federal, state, and municipal governments, foreign allied governments, and a wide range of commercial clients. Michael Baker International has more than 6,000 employees in more than 90 locations across the U.S. and internationally. To learn more, visit www.mbakerintl.com.