WisDOT announces excellence in construction awards

January 31, 2013

Projects honored in Winnebago, Bayfield, Brown and Milwaukee counties

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) announced its annual Construction Awards during the 2013 Contractor-Engineer Conference held in Madison on January 30. Award winners for 2012 include a grading project in Winnebago County, asphalt paving project in Bayfield County, concrete paving project in Brown County, small bridge construction project in Milwaukee County, and a large bridge project in the city of Milwaukee. A Special Recognition Award recognized work on the I-94 North-South Freeway Project in Milwaukee County.

"We at the Wisconsin DOT work closely with many private-sector partners whose transportation construction work is outstanding," said Beth Cannestra, director of WisDOT’s Bureau of Project Development. "Choosing award winners is a challenging job because all our contractors do great work, but after careful consideration, we feel these projects are among the finest completed last year."

The Excellence in Grading Award went to Hoffman Construction Company of Black River Falls for the reconstruction of the US 41/45 Interchange in Oshkosh. The $31 million project is part of the Winnebago County portion of the US 41 corridor expansion and was completed ahead of schedule. The work required strategic staging operations and intricate construction techniques and management, and included a roundabout, girder bridges and Intelligent Transportations System wiring.

The Excellence in Asphalt Paving Award went to Pitlick & Wick, Inc. of Eagle River for work on nearly seven miles of WIS 13 in Bayfield County. The $2.5 million project included pulverizing existing pavement and replacing it with three layers of asphalt pavement. The work was done without delays or traffic impacts. The contractor tightly controlled the production schedule, kept high safety standards, and completed the 45-day project in almost half the time.

The Excellence in Concrete Paving Award was given to Vinton Construction Company of Manitowoc for its work on a one-mile segment of US 41 at the interchange with WIS 54/Mason Street in Green Bay, in Brown County. The $30 million highly complex project involved planning and coordination to meet WisDOT’s requirements of a very aggressive schedule for reconstruction of all the ramps and one mile of WIS 54/Mason Street. Two signalized ramp terminals and the signalized intersection of Mason Street and Taylor Street were reconstructed into multi-lane roundabouts. The project was constructed in stages under traffic and involved close coordination with the business community to maintain access throughout construction.

The Excellence in Small Structures Award was presented to Lunda Construction Company of Black River Falls for work on the northbound-southbound bridges on US 45 over Rawson Avenue in Milwaukee County. As part of the $6 million project, environmental concerns – including migratory bird nesting and a stream underneath the bridge that could not be disturbed – were handled carefully and effectively. The bridge also includes formlined and stained concrete walls, a mixed use path, and several decorative features such as railings and screens on top of a fieldstone-look wall.

The Excellence in Large Structures Award went to Edward Kraemer and Sons, Inc. of Plain, for work on rehabilitation of the Wisconsin Avenue Bridge and Juneau Avenue Bridge, both over the Milwaukee River in the City of Milwaukee. The complexity of the $20 million project involved technical aspects of a movable bridge that includes mechanical controls and the first-ever use by WisDOT of double corrosion protection reinforcing bar. Additionally, since these bridges are located in downtown Milwaukee adjacent to the pedestrian-friendly Riverwalk, there was a large emphasis placed on aesthetics, with concrete staining and decorative painted steel pedestrian railings.

Wisconsin Constructors, LLC of Black River Falls received a Special Recognition Award for work on the $177 million I-94 North-South Freeway Project in Milwaukee County, from College Avenue to Howard Avenue, including the Mitchell Interchange. Geometrics and landscape of the Mitchell Interchange were changed to improve transportation safety and efficiency. At the center of the interchange are three new bridge tunnel structures. Every component of the three tunnels was critical to timely completion of the project.

For more information, contact:
Don Greuel, WisDOT Bureau of Project Development
(608) 516-1793, donald.greuel@dot.wi.gov