Projects from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), and Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) were named top 12 finalists in the 2025 America’s Transportation Awards competition, sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
Additional projects from IDOT and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) won regional awards in the competition.
“The America’s Transportation Awards shine a spotlight on the vital projects state DOTs deliver for their communities to enhance safety, expand mobility for users, deliver a better quality of life for residents and visitors, and keep our economy moving,” said AASHTO Executive Director Jim Tymon. “The America’s Transportation Awards competition continues to show us that state DOTs are able to transform communities in a variety of ways. And as Congress works toward a new federal surface transportation bill, lawmakers need to only look at the tangible benefits that states deliver to their customers through examples like these winners to see why robust federal funding to states is so important.”
This year’s competition received 113 nominations from 35 state departments of transportation nationwide. The top three scorers in each of AASHTO’s regional competitions advanced to the next round of the competition.
The top 12 now compete for two final awards. The Grand Prize will be chosen by an independent panel of judges, while the People’s Choice Award will be decided through online voting, weighted by state population. The public can vote once per day until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on November 17, 2025, at americastransportationawards.org.
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AASHTO will reveal winners of the Grand Prize and People’s Choice awards at its annual meeting in November 2025. Each winner will receive a $10,000 cash award for a charity or transportation-related scholarship of their choice.
Focused on rightsizing and revitalization of a 0.4-mile segment of Winchester Avenue (U.S. 23X) in downtown Ashland, Kentucky, this project transformed the corridor into a safer, more walkable, more vibrant area for residents and visitors.
“The project involved complex funding, design, and traffic challenges in an urban setting, and city and state partners worked together with engineers to strategically plan a redesign that improved the quality of the community,” said Allen Blair, KYTC Spokesperson.
Residents historically viewed Winchester Avenue as a route to and from the Ohio River Bridge, not a destination, Blair said. “This project was initiated by the city to transform a previously high-traffic, four-lane corridor into a welcoming, pedestrian-friendly destination serving local businesses and the community.”
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The $6 million project received federal transportation funding from two separate sources. Through KYTC’s Local Public Agency program, the funding was administered by the City of Ashland, who awarded the project to Allard Excavation, LLC, as prime contractor.
Their work included new roundabouts to reduce traffic speeds and congestion. Shorter crossing distances, benches, and lighting enhanced walkability. Despite the temporary inconvenience caused by construction, downtown Ashland has seen an increase in foot traffic.
“Since its completion, the Winchester Avenue project has revitalized Ashland’s downtown, transforming it from a simple traffic corridor into a thriving, pedestrian-friendly destination that supports local commerce and draws visitors to the area’s shops, restaurants, and cultural sites,” Blair said. “Transforming this major corridor has shown how infrastructure improvements can extend beyond functionality to foster economic growth, enhance public safety, and create vibrant, welcoming public spaces that support community well-being.”
This program was launched in 2019 to repair or replace 250 of the state’s worst-condition bridges — most located in rural, agriculture-dependent areas. Their failure would force lengthy detours for school buses, farmers, and commercial traffic, disrupting daily life and economic activity. In addition, the program included structures like the Lance Corporal Leon Deraps Interstate 70 Missouri River Bridge at Rocheport, Missouri, which plays a national role as an essential freight corridor.
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“Many things from financial, legislative, and tactical perspectives all came together to launch the Focus on Bridges program and see it to completion,” said Mark Croarkin, Assistant Chief Engineer for MoDOT.
When former Gov. Mike Parson took office in 2018, he made it a top priority to implement solutions for Missouri’s aging infrastructure. The Focus on Bridges program began with a $50 million appropriation from general revenue by the Missouri General Assembly in 2019. Additionally, MoDOT received an $81.2 million Infrastructure for Rebuilding America grant for the I-70 Rocheport Bridge, which triggered another $301 million in bonding revenue for the Focus on Bridges program, also approved by the state legislature.
But where to start? “Missouri has over 10,000 bridges, with over 800 of those in poor condition,” Croarkin said. “To narrow the focus to something manageable, Gov. Parson and MoDOT targeted the 250 worst-condition bridges in the state for either repairs or replacement.”
However, the rural location of many of those bridges created challenges in planning and construction.
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“Not only do these communities need reliable infrastructure to move things like cattle and crops on a consistent basis, but often detour options are scarce,” Croarkin said. “If a bridge were to close, the detours created tend to be long and can have a negative impact on the local economy. The same holds true for construction. As the improvements were made, constant communication had to take place with the citizens in the affected communities.”
MoDOT divided the work into multiple contracts, grouping together bridges in certain areas to maximize competitive bidding and design efficiencies. Ultimately, all 250 bridges were improved within four years at a cost of $351 million.
This $68.3 million project created underpasses at Jefferson and Madison Streets in Springfield, Illinois, to eliminate traffic delays caused by passing trains. New sidewalks enhanced pedestrian and bicycle safety by removing at-grade rail crossings. In addition, the underpasses decreased noise, reduced emissions, and improved reliability for first responders.
The work was part of the Springfield Rail Improvements project — a federal, state, and local initiative that completed five downtown grade separations over the past nine years. Funding for the Connecting Springfield project came from the Rebuild Illinois capital program, with additional federal funding from the IIJA.
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“This project is a testament to the power of collaboration and investment in our community,” said Sangamon County Board Chairman Andy Van Meter. “It’s not just about improving transportation; it’s about connecting our neighborhoods, creating economic opportunities, and enhancing the overall quality of life for our residents.”
IDOT took a proactive, multipronged approach to ensure a smooth and safe 2024 eclipse experience — learning lessons from the 2017 solar eclipse, when unplanned lane closures and severe gridlock caused major disruptions and negative media coverage.
Following a detailed internal review, IDOT began early preparations that included designating key staff for leadership positions in planning; banning nonemergency lane closures during the eclipse; and developing a comprehensive Emergency Traffic Incident Plan. IDOT also prioritized early communication with the public and local officials and coordinated closely with other state agencies and neighboring states.
As a result of the extensive planning, traffic flowed smoothly, no serious crashes occurred, and the event passed without negative media attention. IDOT incurred no costs for this project, other than staff time.
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This $21 million project involved a major rehabilitation of Norwood Lateral (State Route 562), a key east-west connector between I-71 and I-75 in Hamilton County, Ohio. Work included resurfacing between I-71 and the Paddock Road interchange and rehabilitating three mainline bridges over busy local roads.
Complex bridge geometry, underlying roadways and rail lines, and high traffic volumes created significant logistical and engineering challenges. To address these, the project team opted for a two-phase plan with full directional closures — each lasting 90 days — rather than prolonged single-lane closures. This approach improved safety, lowered costs, and enabled more efficient construction and better quality control that accelerated the timeline.
