Vicksburg’s U.S. Route 60 at Vicksburg Road Roundabout was one of the most successful construction partnerships of 2011, the Associated General Contractors of America announced. As a result, the project’s contractor, Glendale-based Combs Construction Company Inc., was one of only three projects to receive the association’s Marvin M. Black Excellence in Partnering Award.

“The foundation of any successful project is teamwork,” said Kristine Young, the association’s president and the CEO of Des Moines, Iowa-based Miller the Driller. “When you have a group of dedicated, skilled people working together to achieve the same goal, anything is possible.”

In collaboration with the Arizona Department of Transportation and La Paz County, the high volume four-way intersection at U.S. Route 60 and Vicksburg Road was transformed into a safe, energy efficient roundabout. The project enhanced approximately 700 ft. (213 m) of roadway along each leg of the intersection. With a modified schedule that reduced project costs and increased savings, Combs Construction Company used brief closures of Vicksburg Road and one-lane sections of U.S. Route 60 eliminating a temporary detour. Combined with 24-hour flagging, this partnered approach and communication minimized impact to the community and reduced materials costs.

The Marvin M. Black Excellence in Partnering Award recognizes unique and successful partnerships needed to complete complex construction projects. A panel of judges, representing all areas of construction, evaluated a record number of projects that were completed in 2011, assessing contractors’ ability to resolve conflicts, the quality of communications with all involved parties and the ability to get many groups to achieve one goal, among other key criteria.