Bay of St. Louis Bridge Wins National People’s Choice Award

JACKSON, MISS., Sunday, October 19, 2008---Mississippi’s Bay of St. Louis Bridge has been named the winner of the People’s Choice Award competition, announced Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) Executive Director Larry L. “Butch” Brown. With over 55,000 votes and ten projects competing for the award, the Bay of St. Louis Bridge won by a landslide.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) held their annual meeting today in Hartford Connecticut and announced the winners of the American Transportation Award for the People’s Choice Award.

With ten projects competing for top awards, the Bay of St. Louis Bridge won with an overwhelming number of votes.

“We salute our many partners in the reconstruction process, and most importantly the resilient people of Bay St. Louis, Henderson Point, and the surrounding Mississippi Gulf Coast communities,” said Brown. “The beautiful bridge carries U.S. Highway 90 traffic between Henderson Point and Bay St. Louis. This beautiful structure brings us one step closer in rebuilding lives better than before.”

The Bay of St. Louis Bridge was destroyed in August of 2005 due to Hurricane Katrina. The Mississippi Department of Transportation replaced the bridge in record time by proceeding to construct the bridge through a design/build contract. The $267 million bridge was completed in November 2007.

The America’s Transportation Award competitions revealed project innovation, technology and transportation solutions that improve safety, relieve congestion, improve access to jobs and schools and enhances the quality of life in America.

The People’s Choice Award was sponsored by AAA, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

To read more about the award, click here.