The Utah Department of Transportation’s (UDOT) project to rebuild multiple interchanges on Bangerter Highway in Salt Lake County was named a top 12 finalist for the 2026 America’s Transportation Awards, sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
In addition, projects from Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming won regional awards in the competition.
Thirty-six transportation projects were submitted by 15 states in the Western Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (WASHTO) region for this year’s competition. The three top-scoring winners from the WASHTO region and three other regions across the country advanced to the top 12 to compete for national honors.
“For almost two decades, the America’s Transportation Awards has highlighted the innovative work state DOTs do to improve communities and enhance the lives of the people who live and visit them,” said AASHTO Executive Director Jim Tymon. “But the truth is, these projects are just a fraction of the incredible work done by state DOTs every year. AASHTO is proud to recognize the diverse and forward-thinking projects that are improving safety, mobility, and quality of life in communities across the country.”
The top 12 projects are competing for the Grand Prize, decided by an independent panel of transportation industry judges, and the People’s Choice Award, determined by online public voting, weighted by state population. AASHTO will reveal both winners at its annual meeting in November 2026.
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| Birkey's Construction Equipment |
The following projects in the Rocky Mountain Construction area won 2026 America’s Transportation Awards.
UDOT’s $530 million project covers multiple Bangerter Highway interchanges, replacing signalized intersections with freeway-style, grade-separated interchanges featuring expanded pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.
“We are experiencing tremendous population growth in our great state, and making Bangerter Highway more like a freeway will reduce traffic delays and improve safety for drivers in western Salt Lake County for years to come,” said UDOT Executive Director Carlos Braceras.
By eliminating stop-and-go traffic and reducing conflict points, the new interchanges improve travel reliability for commuters, freight operators, and local businesses while lowering crash risk. The project also enhances regional connectivity by providing more efficient movement along one of Utah’s fastest-growing transportation corridors.
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| Brandeis Machinery |
New trails, shared-use paths, and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant upgrades address longstanding barriers created by aging infrastructure and provide safer, more accessible travel options for all users.
The Nevada Department of Transportation’s (NDOT) $386 million I‑15/Tropicana Interchange project rebuilt one of the busiest gateways to the Las Vegas Strip while keeping the city moving — even as events like Stanley Cup games, a Super Bowl, and the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix placed unprecedented demand on the corridor throughout construction.
Originally built in 1964, the interchange had become a major bottleneck, struggling to serve tens of millions of annual visitors, daily commuters, and major event traffic. Limited capacity and outdated ramp configurations contributed to congestion, safety concerns, and unreliable travel times. With destinations such as Allegiant Stadium and T‑Mobile Arena nearby, NDOT faced the challenge of modernizing the interchange without disrupting traffic.
As design-builder for the project, Kiewit raised and widened the Tropicana Avenue bridge and added new flyovers and high-occupancy vehicle ramps.
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| Brandeis Machinery |
“The I-15 Tropicana project offered unique opportunities for growth and learning, and we were able to overcome complex challenges, making it one of the most rewarding projects in my career,” said Chris Miske, a Kiewit Project Sponsor who managed the project from an offsite perspective.
The completed project strengthens southern Nevada’s economic engine, reduces freight delays, and positions the region for long‑term growth.
The New Mexico Department of Transportation’s (NMDOT) $35.6 million Jarales Road-Railroad Grade Separation project eliminated long detours and delays caused by trains blocking the at-grade crossing. Before this initiative, residents reported waiting up to 30 minutes for a single train to clear and taking up to 45 minutes to detour around the crossing.
The project built a new bridge over the railroad tracks, reconstructed over a half mile of NM 109, and made improvements to drainage and erosion control. FNF Construction served as prime contractor and Wilson & Company Engineers and Architects handled design. Subcontractors included Guzman Construction, Valley Fence Company, and Bogan Brothers.
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| SITECH Mid-America |
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“This project reflects what transportation investments should accomplish: making daily travel safer by eliminating a dangerous railroad crossing, keeping communities connected, and improving quality of life for generations to come with a more reliable route for families, businesses, farmers, school buses, and first responders,” said NMDOT Cabinet Secretary David D. Quintana.
Prior to this project, the crossing handled more than 1,700 vehicles and nearly 90 trains each day. Now the new overpass separates vehicle and rail traffic, eliminating the potential for train-vehicle collisions while providing uninterrupted access for vehicles and emergency services.
The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) and contractor Ames Construction modernized this critical infrastructure in Teton County, Wyoming.
Built in 1960, the two-lane Snake River Bridge between Jackson and Wilson, Wyoming, had exceeded its service life, was fracture-critical, and no longer met capacity requirements.
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Because a nearby highway intersection also required improvements, WYDOT combined the bridge and intersection into a single, $62 million project that included replacing the Snake River Bridge on WYO 22, reconstructing the intersection of WYO 22 and WYO 390, and adding wildlife crossings.
Located in a heavily used recreational area, the project balanced transportation needs with community priorities, improving mobility, reducing congestion, and enhancing safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and wildlife.
