LA1 Improvement Project Receives AASHTO’s
President’s Environmental Award
October 18, 2004

LADOTD was one of six state Departments of Transportation who received eleven President's Transportation Awards, given out by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) at its 90th Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, Sept. 16-21.

AASHTO gave awards in the ten categories of Administration, Aviation, Environment, Highway Traffic Safety, Highways, Intermodal, Planning, Quality, Research and Water. These awards go to individuals or teams performing exemplary service in furthering transportation service for member departments, regions and the nation.

Working collaboratively with the EPA, the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Coast Guard, and the National Marine Fisheries, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development completed the environmental impact statement for this 17-mile highway through a fragile coastal marsh in Louisiana (reaching a Record of Decision in only 44 months). The $650 million four-lane elevated highway connects Port Fourchon to Golden Meadow, and will replace a substandard two-lane road subject to frequent and damaging flooding. Through its leadership efforts on this project, the Department has set a new standard in environmental streamlining.

Team members:

LADOTD:
David Miller and Michele M. Deshotels

FHWA, LA Division:
William Farr, Robert Mahoney, and Jerry Pitts

U.S. Coast Guard, 8th District:
Marcus Redford

Greater Lafourche Port Commission:
Ted Falgout

LA-1 Coalition:
Roy Francis

NOAA:
Tim Osborn

U.S. Army Corps of Engineer, New Orleans District:
Ron Ventola, Roger Swindler, and James Barlow

LA Dept of Natural Resources, Coastal Management Division:
Tim Robertson and Rocky Hinds

National Marine Fisheries Service:
Richard Hartman

U.S. EPA:
John Ettinger

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:
Patti Holland and Derek Hamilton

Michael Baker, Inc.:
Chris Gesing

Wilbur Smith Associates:
William Huffstetler