Plenary sweeps project awards at ARTBA annual conference

The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) recently announced that the Pennsylvania Rapid Bridge Replacement Project and the State Street Redevelopment Project have been recognized as models of excellence and innovation in the transportation sector.

The awards were presented during ARTBA’s 32^nd Annual Public Private Partnerships in Transportation Conference.

Innovation of the Year: Pennsylvania Rapid Bridge Replacement Project

This award spotlights an idea within a P3 project that demonstrates how the development and/or application of new, innovative and unique concepts help provide value for users.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation selected 558 bridges, geographically spread across the state – from a pool of thousands of bridges classified as being in “poor” condition throughout Pennsylvania – to be completely replaced (substructure, superstructure, approaches) as part of the largest ever multi-asset P3 to be awarded in North America.

Plenary Walsh Keystone Partners was awarded the design-build-finance-maintain contract with price and schedule risk, and bridge maintenance requirements extending 25 years following construction completion.

Community Impact of the Year: State Street Redevelopment Project

ARTBA noted that this year’s recipient demonstrates economic, philanthropic and humanitarian benefit to the public and an improved quality of life for the community and users of the asset.

Purdue University partnered with the City of West Lafayette, Indiana, and Plenary Roads State Street to advance the $120 million State Street Redevelopment Project, a 22-year design-build-finance-operate-maintain project. For generations, State Street served as a primary road leading to and through downtown West Lafayette and Purdue University. As a result of the project, State Street was transformed from a state highway to a city thoroughfare, allowing for a shift in focus toward resident, business and student needs.

The State Street Redevelopment Project promotes travel features, including bike paths and pedestrian walkways, with a goal of enhancing safety for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. The overall design repurposes the corridor with a focus on pedestrians, businesses and campus needs.

Congratulations to the teams involved!