News Briefs
Nov. 20, 2009: The Worsham Street Bridge was one of the grand dames crossing the Dan River in Danville.
Time had taken its toll, but it was still hard for many to see the stately bridge demolished.
The bridge has been taken down and construction of an observation deck is under way. The remains of the structure are now serving another purpose.
The concrete from the bridge has been cleaned of rebar and other materials and is being used as riprap.
Some of the concrete was used as part of the Route 743 culvert repair in Pittsylvania County.
Nov. 18, 2009: When's the best time to stand outside and talk about the cold weather? When it's 65 degrees, of course.
Media outlets from Central Virginia attended a briefing at the Madison area headquarters recently, part of a statewide effort held in each district.
“We remain committed to our mission as an emergency response agency," said VDOT Commissioner David Ekern in a statement. “While VDOT is making tough decisions to balance a significant revenue shortfall, our snow- and ice-removal standards will not change.”
The event was on a day when it hovered in the mid-60s, but, as one news anchor remarked, “The temperatures aren’t always going to be this warm.”
Print, radio and TV reporters took a look at VDOT’s brine application trucks, a brine-manufacturing plant and more traditional snow-removal equipment, including a plow truck with spreader.
"Talking about snow and ice on an unseasonably warm day emphasized that VDOT thinks about winter weather and our responsibility well before the cold weather begins,” said Milton Thacker, Culpeper District maintenance engineer (right).
Nov. 5, 2009: At the request of the Federal Highway Administration, the Virginia Transportation Research Council – VDOT’s research division – hosted a Korean delegation to discuss the council’s materials research program.
The 15 pavement engineers toured the council’s asphalt lab and asphalt binder lab and discussed warm-mix asphalt, field installations and lab tests with Stacey Diefenderfer, research scientist and warm-mix expert.
Additional research council and VDOT materials engineers made presentations on various asphalt technologies..
“We welcome these visits from our transportation colleagues from other countries so we can share the results of our work and learn from each others’ successes,” said Mike Perfater, acting director of research operations at the council.
Nov. 4, 2009: VDOT is an agency that sometimes feels more like family than workplace with many traditions and cherished relationships.
One tradition began in 2006 in honor one of VDOT's own and acknowledge the work ethic and attitude we try to perpetuate.
The Halifax Residency presented the 2009 Barry Brown award to 36-year VDOT employee J.R. Short, right, a transportation operator at the Volens area headquarters in the Lynchburg District.
Thelma Brown, Barry’s mother, was there to assist with the presentation.
The award recognizes employees who demonstrate outstanding commitment and unselfish service while carrying out VDOT’s mission.
The winner exemplifies a cooperative spirit, positive attitude and sense of humor.
“The Halifax Residency created the award in recognition of the late Barry Brown, who passed away while working on the job in 2006, after 18 years of VDOT service,” said Anita Carden, Halifax Residency business administrator.
Oct. 29, 2009: Gov. Tim Kaine joined VDOT and local officials to help break ground (right) on an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) project to widen Route 3 in Spotsylvania County in the Fredericksburg District.
The project will be paid for with more than $25 million in ARRA funds.
“This is a great example of the type of job the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was intended to move forward,” said Kaine. View video >>
The project will remove an existing bottleneck by widening a four-lane section of Route 3 to six lanes.
“When this stimulus project is complete, it will improve traffic congestion through the corridor, create a safer transportation system and attract new businesses that will enhance the economic growth of the area,” said Quintin Elliott, Fredericksburg District administrator.
Construction is scheduled to start in April 2010 and to be completed in summer of 2012.
Oct. 27, 2009: If a co-worker discovered a way to help you do your job more efficiently, would you want to know about it?
VDOT's nine district construction engineers (right) and the state construction engineer think that answer is "yes."
They’ve been working with VDOT's Knowledge Management Division over the past five years to implement a performance improvement and management process.
"This demonstrates how collaboration across geographic and organizational boundaries can promote more effective and flexible responses to VDOT's evolving needs," said Katherine Clark, Knowledge Management's program manager.
Using knowledge gained from the performance metrics of the Dashboard, the coordinated efforts strengthens the biennial strategic plan objectives of on-time, on-budget, quality and environmentally compliant project delivery.
Oct. 26, 2009: No matter if they work in a crew or cubicle, all VDOT employees "Keep Virginia Moving." For incident commanders, this is literally the case.
“Incident commanders work with our partner agencies to clear the road as quickly as possible and keep it safe," said Dean Gustafson, Northwestern Region operations director. "By keeping the system moving, we also help to keep it reliable.”
Twenty-eight VDOT employees participated in an incident commander "train-the-trainer" event in September.
This planning and preparation positions trainers to guide approximately 700 incident commanders at various levels to deliver a consistent VDOT response.
“Our incident commanders are key leaders in responding to the challenging work at crash scenes and other incidents," said VDOT Chief of System Operations Connie Sorrell. "They provide a critical communication link with our partner agencies to make sure that the incident is cleared as quickly as possible and that the responders are safe."
