​(March 23, 2021) - The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) recently received an award for the quality of pavement used on a nine-mile stretch of I-270 in Frederick County.    

The 2020 Perpetual Pavement Award recognizes asphalt pavements that have been designed and built with outstanding care and exceptional quality. I-270 northbound, between the Doctor Perry Road overpass and the I-70 westbound underpass, has received the recognition. This is the sixth time Maryland has received the award for pavement projects.   

“We are honored to receive this award for I-270, one of our heavily traveled routes,” MDOT SHA Administrator Tim Smith said. “Earning the 2020 Perpetual Pavement Award further demonstrates our continued commitment to thinking long term about transportation infrastructure in our daily decisions now.”   

As a regional connector between I-495 (Capital Beltway) and I-70 with frequent freeze thaw cycles, I-270 continues to demonstrate value. An average of 92,500 motorists traveled along I-270 in 2020 and trucks made up 9 percent of the traffic volume.     

The Asphalt Pavement Alliance developed the Perpetual Pavement Awards as a way to recognize long-life asphalt pavements around the country and honor those with outstanding design and construction.    

Engineers from the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) at Auburn University evaluate projects based on the performance of asphalt in environmental and soil conditions, traffic, construction and maintenance record. 

Editor’s Note

From intersection improvements to widening and new interchange construction, MDOT SHA is investing in projects to enhance the commute and daily travel for millions of Marylanders.  MDOT SHA maintains more than 2,500 bridges and 17,000 miles of non-toll state roads – the interstate, US and state numbered routes in Maryland’s 23 counties.