Willmar Wye project recognized with regional 2023 America’s Transportation Award
WILLMAR, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Transportation announces that the Willmar Rail Connector and Industrial Access Design-Build Project (aka the Willmar Wye) won a regional 2023 America’s Transportation Award.
The America’s Transportation Awards program is administered by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the Willmar Wye project was selected from a pool of 23 projects nominated by ten states within the Mid America Association of State Transportation Officials (MAASTO), one of four regional AASHTO associations.
The Willmar Wye project won the award for Quality of Life/Community Development, Medium Category. Projects for this award were judged based on how they benefited the community, improved lives, contributed to future economic growth, and included public support, community involvement, and effective partnerships. Jon Huseby, District Engineer for MnDOT District 8, recently attended the annual MAASTO conference to accept the award on behalf of MnDOT and its project partners. “The Willmar Wye has been an amazingly effective public-private partnership,” Huseby said, “with each organization contributing to the project’s ultimate success and impressive results in safety and rail efficiencies, as well as providing a foundation for economic development.”
The public-private partnership included the City of Willmar, Kandiyohi County, BNSF Railway, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, Kandiyohi County & City of Willmar Economic Development Commission, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
The transportation projects first compete at the regional level against similar projects, and the top three winners of each region then move on to the national stage.
AASHTO is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association representing highway and transportation departments in the 50 states, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. It represents all transportation modes, and its primary goal is to foster the development, operation, and maintenance of an integrated national transportation system. To learn more visit the AASHTO website.
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