The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) needs the public’s help in raising $10,000 for the Indiana State Transportation Workers Foundation, which provides needed financial assistance to the families of INDOT workers who are killed or disabled in the line of duty.

On Sept. 8, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), AAA, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce named the South Split project as one of the nation’s top 10 transportation projects as part of the 2014 America’s Transportation Awards competition.

The 10 finalists are eligible for the People’s Choice Award, which includes a $10,000 donation to a charity or scholarship fund of the winning state’s choosing.

INDOT encourages Hoosiers to vote for the South Split project up to 10 times per day through Oct. 24 at http://nominate.americastransportationawards.org/Voting.aspx.

Last year, INDOT closed I-65/70 in downtown Indianapolis between the north and south split to rebuild and lower pavement under seven bridges. Captured video documented these bridges were being struck with increasing frequency and severity by unpermitted and off-route oversize loads.

Through innovative design and bidding techniques, the closure period was reduced from 90 to 44 days, the project cost was reduced from $20 million to $12.4 million, and the minimum clearance on the section of interstate was increased by more than a foot. Since the project was completed in October 2013, to date there have been no bridge strikes — making the roadway much safer for its 100,000-per-day users.

A record 36 states and the District of Columbia entered 73 projects in this year’s America’s Transportation Awards. The 10 finalists received the highest number of points during four regional competitions. The I-465 and Allisonville Road interchange reconstruction was named a finalist during last year’s competition.

A panel of experts will select the Grand Prize winner, which will be announced along with the People’s Choice Awards on Nov. 23 at the AASHTO Annual Meeting in Charlotte, N.C.

For more information, visit SouthSplit.in.gov.

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