The Central PA Chapter of WTS International has recognized a project led by District 8 Design Project Manager Supervisor Nexa Castro with the Innovative Transportation Solution Award.
The award, which recognizes an innovative transportation project led by a woman that improves quality of life, went to the 272-037 project in Lancaster County. Nexa accepted the award during a virtual gala in which District 8 Executive Mike Keiser also received the organization's 2021 Honorable Ray LaHood Award.
This project was designed to improve safety along a 5.7-mile section of Route 272 between Herrville Road and Mt. Airy Road in Providence and Pequea townships. Prior to the project, this section of roadway had seen a fair number of significant accidents, including fatalities.
The project consisted of widening selected shoulder areas, reconstructing the median with mountable curb islands, paving, and the construction of loons and shoulder pull off areas for horse and buggy traffic.
A roundabout initially was proposed, but after ferocious pushback from the municipalities, an alternative design was selected. This, too, received significant opposition, but design and construction moved forward, nonetheless.
"272-037 was challenging, to say the least, but Nexa worked tirelessly to ensure a project was designed that would meet the needs along the Route 272 corridor," Chris Drda said. "This included a lot of outreach and personal contacts with local residents. It's gratifying to see this project, and Nexa, recognized by other transportation professionals for its quality and innovation."