IRF honours outstanding road achievements

The IRF presented 12 Global Road Achievement Awards (GRAA), the 2008 Student Essay Competition winner, and three Lifetime Distinguished Service Awards at its Annual Awards Banquet at The Mayflower Hotel, Washington DC on 12 January.

Patrick Sankey, CEO and Director General, 3918 IRF Washington, welcomed guests to the event and introduced IRF Washington chairman Brian Harris as the presenter.

"As engineers and road builders, I don't think we're so good at self-promotion," said Harris. "But, as you can see from these awards, we have a lot to be proud of as a road building community. In these tough economic times it is easy to be fearful; nevertheless our industry continues to provide innovation and solutions."

GRAA Presentations

The winners of the 2008 GRAA Competition are:

Category: Advocacy & Lobbying
ARTBA for its project 2668 National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse

Category: Construction Methodology
Utah DOT for its project I-215/4500 South Structure Project

Category: Design
The 1493 Louis Berger Group/J.A. Brennan Associates for their project, Ohmi-Ohdori Bridge

Category: Environmental Mitigation
Attica Tollway Operations Authority for its project Attica Tollway (Attiki Odos)

Category: Innovative Finance
Brun-Way Highways Operations and New Brunswick Highway Corporation for their, Trans-Canada Highway Project

Category: Maintenance Management
1009 New Zealand Transport Agency for its project Alpine Highway Challenge

Category: Programme Management
3220 Parsons for its project, Louisville Southern Indiana Ohio River Project

Category: Quality Management
3290 Resource International for its project, Various Projects in Ohio

Category: Research
3733 Nippo Corporation for its project Development of Solar Heat Blocking Pavement

Category: Safety
339 Telegra for its project Powering Safety for Roadways

Category: Technology, Equipment & Manufacturing
2993 CECA Arkema for its project CECABASE RT: Additives for Warm Mix Asphalts

Category: Traffic Management and Intelligent Transportation Systems
Ministry of Transport, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its project Intelligent Transport System Master PlanFounded in 2000, this programme recognises the exemplary projects and organisations that place the road industry at the forefront of social and economic development. An independent panel of judges from around the world with expertise in the roadway development industry selected the winners for this year's competition.

IRF presented crystal trophies to the 12 award winners after a video presentation of the winning project.
Clark Martin, of the 2410 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Professional and Corporate Development, praised the event and the presentations.
"The video presentations of the winning projects were outstanding. This was a great programme," he said.

Student Essay Competition

In 2008, IRF launched its Student Essay Competition. Essays were submitted from students at nearly two dozen universities on the theme of Road Safety. Allison Daniello, a junior mechanical engineering student at Virginia Tech University was the winner.

Daniello completed her essay, 'Motorcycle Guardrail Crashes: How Can the Risk of Severe Injury and Fatality be Reduced?' under the supervision of Dr. Clay Gabler.
Mike Dreznes, vice president, 165 Barrier Systems, presented Daniello with her first place prize of $3,000, and Dr. Gabler was also rewarded.

"I am constantly amazed and impressed by the enthusiasm, creativity, inventiveness, and discipline of these young professionals," said Dreznes. "It gives me great hope for the future."

Lifetime achievement

This year, IRF honoured Marion C. Dietrich, John O. Gehrett, and Dana E. Low for their lifetime of service and dedication to the road industry.

"These three men have gone above and beyond in their service, have shown a sustained commitment to IRF's core values, demonstrated leadership and sacrifice for the betterment of the global road community, and have given their time, energy, and money to support IRF's mission," said Harris. Unfortunately, Mr Dietrich passed away on 30 October, 2008 and Mr Low was unable to attend the Awards Banquet.

Mr Gehrett was present and received a standing ovation from the audience. Mr Gehrett thanked IRF for the honour and recalled fond memories of IRF.

"I've had many wonderful opportunities in the IRF family to meet great people from all over the world and form lasting friendships. This is a wonderful organisation. In my life I have had two families. My first, and most important, is the one with my wife, kids, and grandkids. My second has been IRF, with my dear friends Marion and Dana."

As the ceremonies came to a close, HE, Deputy Minister Abdullah A. Al-Mogbel, thanked IRF on behalf of all the award winners.
"This programme is of the first importance. It promotes the many great benefits we provide to economies and communities around the world," he said.

Harris closed the ceremony by encouraging all in attendance to submit their outstanding projects for the 2009 IRF GRAA Competition.