PULASKI COUNTY (8-20) – The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) has
received a 2019 America’s Transportation Award from the American Association of State
Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), according to Department officials.

The award is in recognition of the U.S. Highway 70 widening project extending from
Interstate 30 westward to Hot Springs. The project tied for first place in the “Operations
Excellence, Medium Project” category.

The $78.5 million Highway 70 project widened 17.5 miles of the highway to five lanes and
replaced four bridges. Motorists’ safety was also improved by constructing wider shoulders,
straightening curves, flattening hills and installing a traffic signal at the intersection with
State Highway 128. The project was completed three months ahead of schedule.

“We are thrilled to accept this recognition from our peers at AASHTO,” ARDOT Director Scott
Bennett commented. “The Department commends McGeorge Contracting Company for their
excellent job on these improvements especially considering that the highway remained open
to traffic during the entire project.”

As a regional winner, the Highway 70 project will be considered for inclusion in the
competition’s “Top 12.” The Top 12 compete for the top two prizes – the Grand Prize, chosen
by an independent panel of judges, and the People’s Choice Award, which is determined by
the public through online voting. Both carry a $10,000 cash prize to support a
transportation-related scholarship or charitable cause and will be announced at the AASHTO
Annual Meeting in St. Louis this October.

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