BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) was recently recognized by the Design Build Institute of America (DBIA) as 2011 Transportation Owner of the Year in the category of Highway/ Bridges on March 29, during the 2011 Design-Build in Transportation Conference in Kansas City, Missouri.          

               The award was presented to DOTD for the agency’s use of the design-build project delivery method on five highway bridge projects: the John James Audubon Bridge over the Mississippi River in Pointe Coupee and West Feliciana parishes, the U.S. 90 Interchange at La. 85 in Iberia Parish, the Interstate 12 Widening Project in East Baton Rouge and Livingston parishes, the I-10 widening project from Siegen to Highland Rd. in East Baton Rouge Parish, and the I-12 widening project from Range Ave. to Juban Rd. in Livingston Parish.

               Each year, DBIA pays tribute to organizations in the transportation industry that have made significant contributions in advancing the awareness, understanding and use of the design-build project delivery method.

               DOTD has used the design-build method to expedite the project-delivery process, making projects “shovel-ready” faster and successfully meeting aggressive funding schedules. The agency also developed a design-build task force, through which a collaborative team of industry participants reviewed the design-build process to suggest improvements. The task force has provided valuable industry input to the agency, also affording design-builders and potential design-builders the opportunity to better understand DOTD’s design-build process. Additionally, to provide further aid in the understanding and implementation of this method, the agency has recently committed to the development of a Design-Build Manual, intended to be used as a resource for both internal personnel and design-builders.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) is committed to delivering transportation and public works systems that enhance the quality of life. In addition to more than 16,600 miles of roadway, including over 890 miles of interstate, DOTD supports the development of the state’s aviation, marine and rail infrastructures. Through this work, we are able to facilitate economic development, create job opportunities, improve vital evacuation routes, and make critical freight corridors safer and more efficient.             

For more information, please visit www.dotd.la.gov, email dotdcs@la.gov, or call DOTD’s Customer Service Center at (225) 379-1232 or 1-877-4LADOTD (1-877-452-3683). Business hours are 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Motorists can access up-to-date travel information by dialing 511 or by visiting www.511la.org. Out-of-state travelers can call 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511).

-30-

www.dotd.la.gov