HANNIBAL - The Route 36 four-lane project from just west Hannibal to Macon has been awarded the 2008 Award for Excellence in Practical Design for large projects by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Missouri (ACEC-MO).  MoDOT's Transportation Project Managers Rolla Rentz, Rick Domzalski, and Brian Haeffner were recognized for their outstanding efforts on the project at this year's annual Transportation Engineers Association of Missouri (T.E.A.M.) conference in St. Louis.

Rentz, Domzalski, and Haeffner accepted the award for their innovative and creative efforts to deliver a quality transportation project better, faster and cheaper than ever before.  They were among several professional engineers recognized for the best examples of Practical Design with "Awards for Excellence."  Rentz and Domzalski work out of the Northeast District office in Hannibal, and Haeffner works out of the North Central District office in Macon.

The competition, co-sponsored by MoDOT and the ACEC-MO, was judged based on project submittal, purpose and need, cost savings and roadway user expectations.  The application of practical design resulted in the most efficient and cost-effective four-lane design MoDOT can provide, saving Missouri taxpayers approximately $138 million from the original estimate in 1998 of $227 million.

The MoDOT employees from Hannibal and Macon worked together to make the 52-mile project more affordable and to deliver the project sooner than expected.  "We have excellent employees within our districts and central office who worked together on core teams, design, plan review and many other aspects in order for the project to be under contract in approximately 26 months," explained Paula Gough, Northeast District Engineer.  All 52 miles of Route 36 will be completed by November 2009 and 50% of the construction cost was financed through a ½-cent sales tax passed by the U. S. Highway 36-Interstate 72 Corridor TDD, comprised of Macon, Marion, Monroe, and Shelby counties.  "All projects are now developed using the practical design concept," Gough added.  The Route 36 project is a good example of what can be accomplished through partnering and innovation," she concluded.

For up to date information on the Route 36 Expansion project please visit the project website at http://www.modot.mo.gov/northeast/projects/route36expansion.htm.  If you have questions about this and other transportation issues, please call MoDOT's toll-free customer service number at 1-888 ASK MODOT (275-6636) during normal business hours or visit our website at www.modot.org/northeast.

(Photo Cut Line: MoDOT Chief Engineer Kevin Keith, and Transportation Project Manager Brian Haeffner from the North Central District at Macon and Transportation Project Managers Rolla Rentz and Rick Domzalski from the Northeast District at Hannibal.)