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By Sarah Rippke, Bolton & Menk, Inc.

The 2015 APWA-MN Chapter Awards program had a successful year, thanks to the great nominations made by our chapter members. 

Project of the Year Award

As determined by our Awards Committee, two projects were selected for Project of the Year this year: the Downtown Improvements in the City of Jordan and the Highway 7/Louisiana Avenue Interchange in the City of St. Louis Park.

Jordan, like many towns of similar age and size, was faced with crumbling utilities beneath its downtown business district. Coupled with the desire to reinvigorate the business climate and fill vacant properties with vibrant commerce, the city saw the opportunity for creative improvements wrapped in the necessity of utility reconstruction. Accepting the award on behalf of the City of Jordan, whose project team included Bolton & Menk, Inc., and Chard Tiling & Excavating, was  Jordan City Administrator Tom Nikunen. (See photo below.)  

A grade separated interchange was constructed to replace the signalized intersection at TH 7 and Louisiana Avenue. The fundamental goal of the project was to provide a safe, functional, urban interchange to improve access, safety, and operations for a number of modes of transportation including vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles, transit, and freight. Accepting the Project of the Year Award on behalf of the City of St. Louis Park, whose project team included Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (SEH) and C. S. McCrossan, was St.  Louis Park Engineering Director Debra Heiser. (See photo below.)

In addition, the chapter recognized Camp Ripley Road and Utility Infrastructure Improvements, the Minnesota Department of Military Affairs, whose team included: TKDA, Breitback Construction Company, Tri-City Paving, and Eagle Construction Company with the Project of the Year, Honorable Mention.