The awards competition was launched in 2008 by AAA, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to recognize the most outstanding transportation projects in the country.

A panel of judges this year evaluated 50 projects from 33 states in three categories: "On Time," "On Budget," and "Innovative Management." During four regional competitions, 22 winning projects were selected. The top 10 projects competing for national prizes had scored the highest number overall points during the judging.

The America's Transportation Awards Grand Prize will be determined by independent judging and will be presented at the AASHTO Annual Meeting on Oct. 25 in Palm Desert, CA. The top 10 projects will also compete for the People's Choice Award, which will decided by popular vote. Online voting is now underway at www.americastransportationaward.org and goes through Oct. 23.

"These projects show that states are being accountable for every dollar they receive from the taxpayers," said John Horsley, AASHTO executive director. "They are using the smartest technology in their projects, and they are investing in their communities by reducing congestion, protecting the environment, and enhancing safety. In these tough economic times, the value of rapid and efficient highway construction gets magnified even more."

The top 10 projects will be profiled in the AASHTO Journal during the next five weeks. They are:

• Maryland Department of Transportation: MD 32 at Burntwoods Road Project
• Delaware Department of Transportation: I-95 Mainline Widening Project
• Minnesota Department of Transportation: I-35W Minneapolis Bridge Replacement Project
• Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development: Front Street Natchitoches Restoration Project
• North Carolina Department of Transportation: Clayton Bypass Project
• New York State Department of Transportation: I-86 Interchange Project
• California Department of Transportation: Fix I-5 Sacramento Project
• Nebraska Department of Roads: Yankton Bridge Project
• Michigan Department of Transportation: M-115 Clare County Improvement Project
• Florida Department of Transportation: 95 Express Miami Project

Last year, the first America's Transportation Award Grand Prize went to Virginia and Maryland for constructing the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, which spans the Potomac River on Interstate 95 south of Washington.

After 55,500 online votes were cast, the People's Choice Award in 2008 was presented to Mississippi for the Bay St. Louis Bridge reconstruction near Biloxi. The original structure was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

Learn more about the projects and the competition at www.americastransportationaward.org.