Mohawk Trail Reconstruction Named 'Project of the Year'
 The rapid rebuilding of Route 2 after Tropical Storm Irene has been named the Public Works Project of the Year by the American Public Works Association. |
MassDOT reopened Route 2 in 110 days, despite also having to deal with a freak October storm that dumped nearly 2 feet of snow on the region.
The engineers who made it happen will receive the American Public Works Association's Public Works Project of the Year Award. The award will be presented on Aug. 27 at the 2012 International Public Works Congress being held in Anaheim, Calif.
"In just six weeks, MassDOT had designed all the repairs and contractors were working to stabilize and repair slopes, retaining walls and gabion walls," said Secretary of Transportation Richard A. Davey. "By mid-November, MassDOT also had advanced a bridge preservation project in Florida, expanding the scope of work to include slope repairs adjacent to the bridge."
The team being honored is comprised of District 1 engineers Grant Haywood, Matt Jasmin, Joe Mancari, Zahid Pervaiz, John Pierce and Mark Ringie, all of Pittsfield; John Bedard, Pete Lamarre, Tim Moore and Mike Wall, all of North Adams; Bennington, Vt.,'s Steve Eddington and Mark Page; Cathy Braman of Clarksburg; Mike Dostal of Williamstown; Russ Duval of Adams; Dan Evans of New Lebanon, N.Y.; Charlie Najimy of Savoy; Trevor O'Bryan of Cheshire, and Tony Vona of Albany, N.Y.
All are members of the Massachusetts Organization of State Engineers & Scientists, or MOSES.
A total of 13.1 miles of Route 2 was severely affected in some fashion. Floodwaters brought by Irene caused extreme damage to the area's major artery and included compromised bridges, destabilized embankments, washed-out roads, washed-away rip rap along with roads covered with dirt and storm debris.
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"The devastation from Irene was catastrophic," said MOSES President Joe Dorant. "MassDOT and emergency groups quickly sprang into action, clearing roads and making all-important road accessibility a top priority.
"By the time President Obama declared a state of emergency in the region, workers were already clearing the roadways and state personnel, including bridge inspectors, flood plain managers, police, MEMA and numerous other commonwealth employees — some MOSES members, some not — worked tirelessly to assess storm damage."
Damage was so severe in Florida, Savoy and Charlemont that almost six miles of Route 2 from mile marker 21.6 in Florida to mile marker 27.4 in Charlemont was closed.
Dorant called it "an amazing accomplishment" and spoke to the dedication and loyalty of the civil servants involved.
"This project and the exemplary work of MassDOT and District 1 MOSES members is a great example of how public works agencies and contractors can work quickly to assess damage, design repairs, procure teams and safely restore critical infrastructure assets," said state Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield. "Congratulations to the team for this well-deserved national recognition."
Related stories:
MassDOT Sets 'Aggressive' Schedule to Open Route 2
Hurricane-Damaged Route 2 Reopens to Traffic
Tags: Irene, Mohawk Trail, public works, reconstruction, roadwork,
