The award-winning project involved milling and filling, applying an overlay, improving curbs, gutters, and pedestrian ramps, installing new drainage spillways, applying shoulder and approach aggregate, final pavement markings, and centerline and sinusoidal corrugations. Gerken achieved pavement smoothness goals based on a 25 percent improvement from the existing pavement.

“The asphalt pavement industry is committed to building high-quality projects that deliver superior performance to the traveling public,” said 2022 NAPA Chairman James A. Mitchell. “Projects earning a Quality in Construction award are measured against best practices designed to live up to that commitment.”

The Larry H. Lemon Quality in Construction Award recognizes the ten highest-scoring projects submitted for a Quality in Construction (QIC) Award in the General Paving (less than 50,000 tons) category. Projects undergo evaluation by an independent pavement engineer who assigns each project a numerical score based on how well the contractor met specifications and achieved density on the finished pavement. All the pavements meeting a benchmark figure earn the QIC Award.

The award is named for Larry Lemon of Haskell Lemon Construction in Oklahoma City. Lemon was instrumental in creating the rating system for the awards, which requires qualitative analysis using data and test results to determine the winners.