WASHINGTON, D.C. — TRB will be conducting a webinar on Sept. 12, 2011, from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. EDT that will explore procedures for designing dense-graded, asphalt concrete mixtures that will be produced using currently available warm-mix asphalt (WMA) processes. Participants must register in advance of the webinar and there is a fee for non-TRB Sponsor employees. Professional Development Hour (PDH) certificates will be provided for this webinar; the webinar has a value of 1.5 hours.

 TAMPA, FLA. — The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) selected HDR as the lead design firm for reconstruction of 1.21 miles of U.S. 19 in Pinellas County. HDR will design a modified single-point urban interchange at Curlew Road to replace the existing at-grade signalized intersection. U.S. 19 will be reconstructed from an eight-lane divided arterial to a six-lane controlled access roadway with frontage roads. Project limits are from Northside Drive to County Road 95.

 RICHMOND — Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell announced that the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Elizabeth River Crossings LLC (ERC) have agreed on the major business points for the Downtown Tunnel/Midtown Tunnel/Martin Luther King Extension Project connecting Norfolk and Portsmouth. Agreement on the major business points of the transaction paves the way for VDOT and ERC to finalize the detailed terms of the comprehensive agreement and the financing package for this $1.9 billion project. VDOT and ERC expect to sign the comprehensive agreement and achieve financial close by the end of 2011.

 HARRISBURG, PA. — The Reconstruction of New Jersey Route 18 project in New Brunswick, N.J., was chosen as one of the recipients of America’s Transportation Awards, which took place at the annual meeting of the Northeast Association of State Transportation Officials. Eight transportation projects from seven Northeastern states were recognized for reducing congestion, stimulating economic development, improving multimodal connections, reconnecting communities, and making commuting safer.

 SEATTLE — The culmination of 10 years of technical analysis and public, agency, and tribal review came to fruition July 7 when the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), and city of Seattle released the State Route 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement project’s final environmental impact statement (EIS).