The CalTrans ‘Raise 80’ project, which required the lifting of bridges over Interstate 80 to meet new federal clearance standards, has won an engineering award. The project was the 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers Sacramento Section ‘Outstanding Roadway and Highway Project of the Year’. CalTrans spokeswoman Liza Whitmore says the group recognized CalTrans’ efforts in what was a very dynamic project..

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Each was raised between 17 and 21 inches, and only took a couple of nights each. One of the closures required a detour through Nevada County. The award also focused on the amount of coordination between CalTrans and state and local agencies, commuters, truckers, and community members. Whitmore says there was a presentation and a dinner in Sacramento Tuesday night to go with the honor…

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It’s estimated that using that innovative method instead of demolishing and constructing new bridges saved an estimated 100 million dollars in construction costs.