Max Brewer Bridge Remains In Front In National Vote

By  //  October 4, 2012

Competition Ends Oct. 19

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The A. Max Brewer Bridge, a Top 10 Finalist in a “Best in the Nation” transportation project competition, continues its stronghold in the national vote count, but a project in California has collected 17,000 votes in the past week to narrow the gap, according to the latest figures provided by Florida’s Department of Transportation.

The A. Max Brewer Bridge in Titusville leads nationwide voting for the "Best in the Nation" transportation project competition, (Image courtesy of EPG Engineering)

Less than two weeks remain before a winner is declared and Brevard County residents can vote as many as 10 times a day. The $44.8 million A. Max Brewer Bridge replacement project in Titusville was named among 10 top highway transportation projects across the nation going head to head in a competition to determine which projects earn the “Best in the Nation” title.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced the bridge among 10 finalists in its 2012 America’s Transportation Awards competition. The finalists included projects in California, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada and Virginia.

According to the latest vote county, A. Max Brewer Bridge has collected 42,401 votes. Here’s how other state projects are stacking up in the vote count: California, 30,691; Kentucky, 10,555; Missouri, 9,311; Iowa, 7,390; Virginia, 4,655; Massachusetts, 2,243; Louisiana, 2,145; Nevada, 1,957; and Maryland, 1,509.

The 10 finalists received the highest number of overall points during four regional contests, representing each part of the country. In all, 49 projects from a record 34 states were judged in three categories: “Ahead of Schedule,” “Under Budget” and “Best Use of Innovation.”

The finalists are now competing for the America’s Transportation Awards’ Grand Prize, selected by a panel of judges.The People’s Choice Award will be decided by popular vote of the general public. Brevard County residents are encouraged to vote, and can do so up to 10 times a day. Online voting is under way and continues through Friday, Oct. 19, at www.AmericasTransportationAward.org.

The winners of both the Grand Prize and the People’s Choice awards will each receive $10,000, which will be donated by state Departments of Transportation to a charity or scholarship of their choice. Winners will be announced Nov. 18 at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ annual meeting in Pittsburgh.

In its recognition of the A. Max Brewer Bridge replacement project, AASHTO wrote: “Florida Department of Transportation spent $44.8 million to replace the aging, structurally deficient A. Max Brewer Bridge while paying special attention to the environmental impacts and cutting down on congestion for drivers by installing a higher fixed span bridge instead of the swing bridge.”