The Design-Build Institute of America has awarded MoDOT its Owner of the Year Award for design-build in the transportation field. The award recognizes MoDOT's significant contributions in advancing the awareness, understanding and use of Design-Build project delivery through the innovative approach to handling the first three design-build projects in MoDOT's history. These three projects include The New I-64 reconstruction project in St. Louis, the kcICON project in Kansas City, and the statewide Safe & Sound bridge improvement program.

"This award demonstrates that MoDOT has become a nationally recognized leader in implementing innovative solutions to deliver large-scale highway and bridge improvements quickly and within budget," Director Pete Rahn said. "Ultimately, the winners are the people of Missouri who will get better, safer roads and bridges through wise use of their dollars."

MoDOT's proposal process for its design-build contracts was flexible enough to allow the contractors to bid their work using best practices from departments of transportation across the country. This unique approach resulted in Missouri getting the best project value for the available funds.

MoDOT was also recognized for overcoming several challenges to make Design-Build successful, such as legislative approval; securing funding for the three projects;

selecting key staff and educating them on design-build contracting methods; developing documents and reviewing viable proposals; and attracting competitive, capable contractors.

Rahn commend and congratulated MoDOT staff and its partners for the great work that resulted in this award, which was presented April 16 to the directors of the three MoDOT design-build projects at the DBIA 2008 Design-Build Transportation Conference in Louisville, Ky.