Bypass picks up accolade

SANDPOINT — The Sand Creek Byway has another accolade for its trophy case.

The American Council of Engineering Companies of Idaho has picked the U.S. Highway 95 realignment project as the first-place winner for the 2013 Engineering Excellence Awards competition for transportation.

The $112 million bypass project, which was completed last July after decades of debate, was designed by URS Corporation. Parsons RCI served as the project’s general contractor.

Parsons built the 2.1-mile-long alignment around the city of Sandpoint. The project consists of four steel-girder bridges, two of which span navigable waterways, and extensive erosion-control measures and mitigation of stormwater runoff into waterways.

“We are proud that the ACEC Idaho has recognized the Sand Creek Byway as a top engineering project,” said Todd Wagner, Parsons Group president. “My congratulations to the Idaho Transportation Department and the entire project team on this well-deserved honor.”

Wagner added that the byway is an important part the Greater Sandpoint infrastructure and Parsons was honored to have contributed to its creation.

ACEC annual competition publicly recognizes engineering achievements that demonstrate a high degree of merit and ingenuity, and that contribute to economic and social advancement in a community.

Although the byway opened ahead of schedule and is expected to improve traffic safety and congestion.

The byway was recognized as Idaho top project in 2009 by the Idaho Business Review and has received numerous other awards including ITD’s Excellence in Transportation Award for public participation and an award from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association.