The National Asphalt Pavement Association recently presented Utah�s Staker Parson Cos. the 2010 Sheldon G. Hayes Award, recognizing the Davis County Lane Gain project as the single best highway pavement project in the nation. The award was presented at NAPA�s 56th annual meeting Feb. 9 in Orlando, Fla.

The Lane Gain project added an HOV lane in each direction of traffic on I-15 from the State Street overpass to the South Layton interchange (Exit 330). The project also provided a longer transition lane for traffic entering the freeway at the South Layton on-ramp, greatly improving traffic safety in the area.

Hundreds of Utah residents drive the I-15 corridor daily and can attest to the traffic congestion that occurred in the Farmington/Layton area before adding additional lanes last year. Brandon LeFevre, South Wasatch general manager for Staker Parson Cos., also drives the stretch of I-15 regularly and oversaw the much-needed Lane Gain project.

LeFevre accepted the award for Staker Parson Cos. at the meeting, where NAPA aired a prepared congratulatory video message from Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, who said, “Despite many obstacles, this winning project produced a smooth, durable pavement and provides one of the best rides in the Utah highway system. The State of Utah is very proud of Staker Parson Cos.’ commitment to quality.”

The project was originally scheduled to be completed after Legacy Parkway. “We recognized that it would be unsatisfactory for motorists to drive into a road construction zone after enjoying the drive on the newly-completed Legacy Parkway,” said Scott Parson, president of Staker Parson Cos. “Through careful planning, collaboration and scheduling with all of the partners, including the Utah Dept. of Transportation and Parsons Brinckerhoff, we were able to complete our project ahead of schedule so that the projects opened simultaneously to the public.”

The Sheldon G. Hayes award winner is determined through a two-step process. First, the project must win a NAPA Quality in Construction Award based on how the road meets and exceeds specifications for hot-mix asphalt production, placement and compaction.

The next year, the project may be considered for the Sheldon G. Hayes award. The project is again evaluated for its smoothness and visually inspected by an independent pavement consultant.