PennDOT Receives Regional AASHTO Awards for I-95 Innovations, Crash Prevention Technology

​Projects win awards for "Operations Excellence," "Best Use of Technology" and "Safety"​

Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is the recipient of three regional America's Transportation Awards from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Governor Josh Shapiro and Secretary Mike Carroll reopened the highway to traffic on June 23, only 12 days after the crash, in part because of an innovative temporary mechanically-stabilized wall system. This innovative approach used a relatively new material consisting of recycled foamed glass aggregate manufactured in Eddystone, PA. This was the first time it had been used in an emergency. The repair "filled the gap" and allowed for a rapid highway reconstruction before a more permanent repair could be implemented.

PennDOT was recognized for its efforts during the Interstate 95 Cottman Avenue collapse in the category of Best Use of Technology & Innovation (small project), its innovative approach to mitigating congestion in the category of Operations Excellence (small project), and for traffic-signal and interchange upgrades in Washington County in the category of Safety (medium project).

On June 11, 2023, a fuel tanker truck carrying around 8,500 gallons of gasoline crashed on the northbound Cottman Avenue off-ramp from I-95 in the Mayfair Section of Philadelphia. The crash caused an explosion and intense fire. Additionally, the structure carrying the northbound lanes of I-95 collapsed, along with the steel beams carrying the southbound lanes, which were damaged beyond repair, closing the highway to the 160,000 average daily vehicles. Reopening similar highways in other states traditionally took several months to complete.

"The I-95 collapse in Philadelphia was a test of the department's ability to meet complex challenges with innovative solutions. We met that challenge," said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. "I'm proud to accept this award on behalf of the dedicated PennDOT staff who work tirelessly in service of Pennsylvanians."

In 11 corridors around Pennsylvania, PennDOT has rolled out active traffic management systems to collect and use crash data to reduce additional crash risk by automatically detecting congestion and relocating traffic to unaffected lanes. The automated queue protection system reduced crashes in the targeted corridors by 183 including 96 rear-end crashes, 86 injury crashes and seven fatal crashes when compared to the previous year's data.

"Road safety is the primary concern for the department," said Carroll. "Our crews are utilizing cutting-edge transportation technology to reduce crashes and improve outcomes."

In Washington County, PennDOT and local officials sought to reduce congestion on Route 18, a route heavily travelled by local users, commercial delivery services, and those accessing recreational areas. The project was expanded to a holistic redesign of the intersection at Route 844. The intersection was updated to include new crosswalks, coordinated traffic signals, pedestrian signal heads and push buttons, audible pedestrian signals and the consolidation of multiple driveway access points to alleviate additional turning movements to create safer access to properties.

The new interchange alleviates congestion along the corridor, supporting many additional modes of transportation. In addition, the new construction promotes pedestrian safety along the corridor.

More information on the winning projects can be found at:

• Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's Automatic Queue Protection System (Operations Excellence, Small Project)
• Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's I -95/Cottman Avenue Emergency Response (Best Use of Technology & Innovation, Small Project)
• Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's PA 18 Signal Upgrades (Safety, Medium Project)
  
  

The America's Transportation Awards competition is sponsored by American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), American Automobile Association (AAA), and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. State DOTs compete in three categories: Quality of Life/Community Development; Best Use of Technology and Innovation; and Operations Excellence. Each category is also designated by budget size. Projects are judged within their region.

Following the NASTO regional competition, the "Top 12" nationwide finalists will be announced in early September, featuring the three highest-scoring projects from each region. Those top contenders will then compete for the two 2024 America's Transportation Awards national prizes.

Subscribe to statewide PennDOT news and traffic alerts at www.penndot.gov/news or choose a region under "Regional Offices." Information about the state's infrastructure and results the department is delivering for Pennsylvanians can be found at www.penndot.gov/results. Find PennDOT's planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.

MEDIA CONTACT: Zachary Appleby, 717-783-8800 or [email protected]

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