ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced that the County’s Department of Public Works’ (DPW) Bureau of Engineering’s Transportation and Special Projects Division’s Henryton Road Bridge Replacement Project took home top honors at the Maryland Quality Initiative’s (MdQI) first Annual Awards of Excellence dinner, winning “Project of the Year” for projects costing less than $5 million. Additionally, the project also received MdQI’s County Engineers Association of Maryland’s Modal Award.
This prestigious award’s program not only recognizes exemplary projects and innovative solutions in project design and construction but also pays tribute to industry leaders who are advancing the quality, safety, and efficiency of Maryland’s transportation sector. Howard County is proud to set an example of excellence, and I commend our Department of Public Works staff and the entire project team on their receipt of these two awards, which highlight their dedication, expertise, and commitment to delivering sound, high-quality infrastructure.
In January 2024, DPW began work to replace the deteriorated Henryton Road bridge in Marriottsville, with a new single-span, prestressed concrete beam structure. This new structure increased the bridge’s structural capacity, removed its 12-ton weight restriction, provided safer access, and minimized local flooding. For the bridge’s construction, the County incorporated Accelerated Bridge Construction techniques utilizing prefabricated super structure elements supported by drilled shaft foundations. Additionally, DPW employed an innovative maintenance of traffic approach to minimize traffic impacts and significantly reduce construction duration.
The overall project was funded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration’s Highway Bridge Replacement Program, saving the County more than $1 million.
I am incredibly proud of the Transportation and Special Projects and Construction Inspection Divisions’ teams and their commitment to delivering high-quality, impactful projects that benefit Howard County communities. It is a true honor to be recognized as industry leaders for quality and excellence.
“I am very pleased with our team’s ability to successfully execute the replacement of the Henryton Road bridge and at the same time preserve the scenic characteristics of the roadway,” said Daniel Davis, Bureau Chief of DPW Bureau of Engineering. “Quality infrastructure and safety are paramount in thriving communities. We will continue to design and build with innovation and sustainability in mind.”
The MdQI provides Maryland’s transportation industry with a forum that fosters coordinated and continuous quality improvement to ensure safe, efficient, environmentally sensitive, and sustainable systems to meet the needs of all transportation stakeholders. For more information about MdQI and/or its awards program, visit www.mdqi.org.