SPRINGFIELD, ILL. AND INDIANAPOLIS, IND. — The Bi-State partnership formed last year by Governors Pat Quinn of Illinois and Mitch Daniels of Indiana is moving forward with planning for the Illiana Corridor. This joint effort is being managed by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), and seeks to identify a long-term transportation solution in a study area extending from I-55 on the west to I-65 on the east.

LOUISVILLE, KY. — The cost of the Ohio River Bridges Project could be reduced by at least $1.2 billion with changes such as those recommended earlier this year by Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, an in-depth analysis by the Bi-State Management Team has concluded.

SEATTLE — Crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) began seismic repairs on the 80-year-old historic SR 99 Aurora Bridge (George Washington Memorial Bridge) on Wednesday, June 1. The $5.7 million project, funded by a 2005 gas tax, is the third and final phase of a plan to strengthen the bridge to better withstand a major earthquake. An estimated 80,000 vehicles use the bridge daily.

LAUREL, MD. — Greenhorne & O'Mara Inc. (G&O) recently won three awards for Engineering Excellence from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC). The Honor Awards were bestowed by the ACEC Maryland and ACEC Metropolitan Washington regional chapters. The Reconstruction of the Eastern Avenue Bridge over Kenilworth Avenue project located in the District of Columbia was also selected for an ACEC National Recognition Award.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 683: Protocols for Collecting and Using Traffic Data in Bridge Design explores a set of protocols and methodologies for using available recent truck traffic data to develop and calibrate vehicular loads for superstructure design, fatigue design, deck design, and design for overload permits.