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Public Service (cont’d. from page 7)to get to the stranded vehicles. Notwilling to give up, Nebraska StatePatrol Communications SupervisorRebecca Bliven contacted NDORrequesting the assistance of a snow -plow and a truck equipped with asnow blower.Meanwhile, Nebraska State PatrolSergeant Kurt Von Minden andTrooper Shane Flynn were briefed onthe situation and Sergeant Von Mindenrequested assistance from TrooperTrinity Jones, Troop A, Omaha, to driveto the town of Union, approxi mately10 miles west of Highway 34, wherethe vehicles were reportedly stranded.Sergeant Von Minden and TrooperFlynn met up with Trooper Jones andthe NDOR personnel driving thesnowplow and snow blower. While inroute, a third stranded motorist wasalso discovered.While continuing to keep contactby telephone with the strandedindividuals, Bliven was advised bythe male motorist that the femalemotorist’s hands were beginning toblister from the cold, and she wasshaking uncontrollably. In addition,Bliven could tell that the male motoristwas becoming more incoherent astime wore on.After nearly four hours, the strandedmotorists were located and transferredinto Sergeant Von Minden’s vehicle.They were transported following theNDOR equipment, which paved theway keeping the road open fromblowing and drifting snow, to waitingemergency medical responders. Fromthere they were taken to a localhospital for treatment. The thirdstranded motorist was able to followthe caravan of vehicles out of the areaand make it to safety.The NSP bestowed this specialrecognition to each NDOR employeefor their assistance as supervisor, snowblower driver and snowplow driverin rescuing these individuals. NSPColonel Tuma also thanked NDORRoads Director Monty Fredricksonand Deputy Director Jake Jacobsenfor their efforts to make Nebraska’sroads safer. ◆Dan Ziska Named ProjectManager of the YearDan Ziska, of O’Neill, was honoredby the Nebraska Chapter AssociatedGeneral Contractors of America (AGC)as Nebraska Department of Roads’Project Manager of the Year. Ziskareceived a traveling trophy and aplaque at the Project Managers’Conference in Kearney on March 24.Ziska has worked at NDOR for thepast 30 years and has been a projectmanager at the District 8 O’Neill officefor over 12 years. He began his careerin O’Neill as an Engineer Aid in 1980and worked his way up through theEngineer Associate and ConstructionTechnician ranks to become HighwayProject Manager in 1998. Dan alsoworks with the Nebraska Chapter ofthe American Concrete Institute as atrainer for the ACI Level 1 and 2courses.Recent projects managed by Ziskainclude “In O’Neill,” an urban con -crete paving project on Highway 20,and “Chambers Junction North,”a rural resurfacing and wideningproject to add surfaced shoulders onHighway 281. The project completedthe addition of surfaced shouldersto the Priority Commercial Systemin District 8.NDOR District 8 Engineer MarkKovar noted, “Dan enjoys the chal -lenges that come with highway work,and the satisfaction that comes fromworking with others to improve thehighways for the citizens of Nebraska.”The award is presented annuallyby the AGC to a NDOR projectmanager who has upheld thestandards of conducting businesswithin the highway constructionindustry with the highest level ofethics and inte grity. The trophy iscalled the Lyle Leader MemorialAward in tribute to Mr. Leader, whowas a project manager at NDOR for34 years. He was active in the District 3Hartington office at the time of hisdeath in August 1991 and was highlyrespected by his peers within thedepartment and by the contractormembers of AGC.All contractor members submitteda nomination for this award and thenominees were voted upon by themembers of the AGC. For the year2010, Ziska received the high honor. ◆Photo by Jay Bailey, NDORShown, l to r: Dan Ziska, 2010 Project Manager of the Year; Katie Wilson,President, Nebraska AGC; and Claude Oie, NDOR Construction Engineer.Roadrunner ◆ April/May 2010 8
I-80 Project Receives Teamworkin Work Zone Safety AwardA NDOR District 1 project, I-80,148th Street Bridge, received theTeamwork in Work Zone SafetyAward, given by the AGC/NDORTraffic Control Committee at the 2010Project Managers’ Conference heldMarch 23-25 in Kearney.Plaques were presented to Com -mercial Construction, Inc., primecontractor, and to Trafcon, Inc., trafficcontrol subcontractor. Bob Traudt,NDOR Project Manager at District 1in Lincoln, also received recognition.This portion of I-80 has an averagedaily traffic of over 39,000 vehicles perday. This project was located betweenother projects along the I-80 corridorthat had different traffic controlsubcontractors. In addition, Trafconhad multiple projects along I-80,including the six-lane reconstructionproject between Exits 401 and 405,and many of the night-time closuresfor this project occurred at the sametime as other projects. There weretimes when Trafcon had as many assix lane closures occurring at thesame time on different projects.Never theless, Trafcon supplied enoughstaff to get all completed. This projectexperienced no work zone crashes.Project Manager Bob Traudt noted,“Trafcon’s superintendent was alwayson the project during crucial timescoordinating lane closures and thefull closure and opening of I-80.He never hesitated in going the extramile with his crew to ensure thesafety of the traveling public. Trafconwas always on time with theinstallation and removal of trafficcontrol devices and was alwayscourteous to myself and inspectors,and was a pleasure to work with.”The award is “in recognition ofexcellence – through demonstratedcooperation and communicationbetween all parties involved – ininstalling, coordinating andmaintaining effective traffic control.The traffic control utilized andmaintained on this project reflectsthe goals of both the Department ofRoads and the Nebraska AGC – awork zone maintained in a safecondition for both workers andmotorists alike.” ◆Pictured, l to r: Jason Muhle, Commercial Construction, Inc., prime contractor; RandyMorse, Trafcon, Inc., traffic control subcontractor; Katie Wilson, President, Nebraska AGC;and Claude Oie, NDOR Construction Engineer.Photo by Jay Bailey, NDORRoadrunner ◆ April/May 2010 9
Page 4: Bridge Award (cont’d. from page 3
Page 7: Public Service Award Goesto Three N
Page 11 and 12: Paving Awards (cont’d. from page
Page 13 and 14: Deer Fence Planned on I-80Plans are
Page 15 and 16: Holdrege St., 33rd-47th,Lincoln (St
Page 17 and 18: Alliance NorthwestBitWerner Constru
Page 19 and 20: HEALTH & WELLNESSWELLNESSJim McGeeH
Page 21: NDOR Events Calendar— April —2

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