CDOT wins four of 10 awards from prominent transportation organization

News Release

Jan. 31, 2025 - Colorado - Employer of the Year, Person of the Year and two project awards go to CDOT

Colorado — The Colorado Department of Transportation was honored Thursday with four top awards from the WTS Colorado Recognition Awards.

WTS is an international organization dedicated to the professional advancement of women in transportation. Founded in 1977, WTS boasts roughly 8,500 members internationally – both women and men. WTS exists to raise the profile of the transportation profession and to help women find opportunity and recognition within the industry. The Colorado chapter of WTS issues 10 annual awards focused on achievements within the state:

Awards received by CDOT on Thursday:

  • Colorado Employer of the Year
  • Colorado Person of the Year - Heather Paddock, Region Transportation Director for Northeast Colorado
  • Colorado Innovative Transportation Solution - Centerra-Loveland Mobility Hub on Interstate 25
  • Colorado Innovative Transportation Solution - US 50 Blue Mesa Emergency Repairs

“These awards reflect the breadth and depth of the work we do every day, and I could not be more proud of this team,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “Being an employer of choice shows we have amazing people who use their talents to innovate solutions for the betterment of the people of Colorado and create opportunities and encourage others to do the same. We are so pleased to be able to celebrate the accomplishments of our talented staff, including Heather Paddock who is being honored with a well-deserved award, as well as the teams that worked on two exceptional projects in northeast and northwest Colorado respectively. Both the Centerra-Loveland Mobility Hub and the US 50 emergency bridge repair are examples of innovation, partnership and projects that deliver tangible and needed results for Colorado communities.”

Denver Metro Regional Transportation Director, Jessica Myklebust, added, “CDOT being recognized as Employer of the Year is a testament to all of the team members whose talent and commitment to their jobs makes CDOT a top-rated state agency,” she said. “I'm proud of the vibrant culture at CDOT where opportunities and recognition exist for all work classifications. This award recognizes the outstanding teams doing impressive work, ensuring CDOT's mission is fulfilled. I'm honored to be part of an agency recognized with this award.”

Paddock agreed. “Working for CDOT has been the most rewarding work of my career. It is the passion of the employees at CDOT that truly drive and care about CDOT’s mission and the citizens we serve,” she said. “CDOT is faced daily with complex problems to solve. Whether it is responding to Mother Nature’s feet of snow, rockslides, fires and floods or innovating ways to move people safer and more efficiently on our congested corridors or engineering solutions to address our aging infrastructure with constrained budgets, the people of CDOT consistently step up to the challenge.”

Colorado Employer of the Year

This award looks at quality of service, number of women in key leadership positions, opportunities for advancement, support and encouragement for continuing professional education and opening intern possibilities for women.

The nomination for CDOT highlights the 71 completed and 39 underway projects on the 10-Year Plan for the organization, as well as the sustainable transportation work done with Bustang, Front Range Passenger Rail and Bus Rapid Transit with RTD.

“I have been fortunate to witness first-hand how CDOT fosters opportunities for growth and innovation in the transportation industry,” said Nyssa Beach, CDOT resident engineer who submitted the nomination. “As the Region 1 liaison to the Emerging Small Business Mentor-Protégé Program, I’ve had the privilege to join CDOT’s commitment to developing small businesses and creating pathways for a diversity of emerging leaders to thrive.”

Colorado Person of the Year - Heather Paddock

Paddock has been with CDOT for 10 years, moving from the 2013 Flood Recovery Office to become the Northeast Colorado Regional Transportation Director where she oversees every aspect of CDOT work in the region, which includes about 500 employees.

Keith Sheaffer, regional south program engineer, said in his nomination letter: “Heather’s servant leadership style has profoundly improved the lives of countless Coloradans. She has dedicated her career to enhancing infrastructure, promoting safety and cultivating a legacy of excellence and equity within CDOT.”

Timnath Senior Civil Engineer Kim Koivuniemi added in her nomination, “Heather’s commitment to fostering collaboration and understanding across organizations sets her apart. She dedicates time to personally meet and mentor individuals across the region, enhancing communication and breaking down silos. Her approach not only strengthens relationships but also promotes innovation and shared success across organizations.”

Kathleen Bracke was one of the nominators for Paddock. “Heather is an outstanding engineer, project manager and regional director for CDOT,” Bracke wrote. “Through her many extraordinary accomplishments over many years with CDOT, she has demonstrated leadership values that exemplify women in transportation as well as lifted up many other women (and men) in the transportation profession.”

Innovative Transportation Solution of the Year - Centerra-Loveland Mobility Hub

The Centerra-Loveland Mobility Hub on Interstate 25 is the first “center-load” bus hub in the state that included a unique partnership with the neighboring Centerra development that brought added aesthetic features as well as a completion of Kendall Parkway under I-25.

RS&H, the firm that submitted the nomination, said, “The Centerra-Loveland Mobility Hub successfully addressed regional transportation challenges, improving safety, efficiency and sustainability … It was developed as a place for multiple modes of transportation (cars, regional bus services, bicycles, pedestrians, local bus services, micro-mobility, etc.) to facilitate seamless mode-to-mode and route-to-route transitions for safe, efficient transportation.”

Innovative Transportation Solution of the Year - US 50 Blue Mesa Emergency Repairs

In spring of 2024, CDOT identified two structures (Middle and Lake Fork bridges) spanning Blue Mesa reservoir on US 50 that were of high risk of failure due to their fracture critical (2 girder) design and uncommon T1 steel material used in construction. This steel has a higher tensile strength but is more prone to cracking in the welded joints. On April 18, 2024, CDOT in cooperation with FHWA closed the Middle bridge after a crack was found during inspection of the center span of the 1963 steel girder structure.

At that time CDOT began mobilizing internal teams along with the contracting with Kiewit Infrastructure and Michael Baker to complete an emergency repair project that would reinforce both bridges and restore traffic including legal loaded CMV’s to cross. By utilizing ultrasonic testing techniques 118 anomalies were identified in welded butt joints that required plate reinforcement on the middle bridge. The combined team analyzed different repair options and determined that a globalized bottom flange repair along with localized top flange and butt joint plating was the best solution to get the structures repaired and open to traffic before the oncoming winter season. The combined repair of both structures consisted of over 407 tons of steel in 1,947 steel plates and 51,504 bolts to secure them to the existing girders.

Work began on Middle bridge in May and was completed on Oct. 16, 2024 and Lake Fork bridge was completed on December 6, 2024 allowing traffic to freely move across without restriction or traffic control. This was a tremendous achievement in just over seven months considering the amount of steel that was fabricated and transported to the project for the repair. Success of the project can be attributed to the professionalism and commitment of the team using constant communication and a desire to succeed.

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Remember: Slow For The Cone Zone

The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones.

  • Do not speed in work zones. Obey the posted speed limits.
  • Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected.
  • Watch for workers. Drive with caution.
  • Don't change lanes unnecessarily.
  • Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones.
  • Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you.
  • Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.
  • Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
  • Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.
  • Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so.
  • Be patient!

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