Dive summary:

• The California and Florida departments of transportation were the top honorees in the  2012 America's Transportation Award contest sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the AAA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
• California got the Grand Prize Award for a $5 million communications program it put in place to warn drivers about disruptions that could be caused by the I-405-Sepulveda Pass Project – Mulholland Bridge Demolition, which required shutting down a section of I-405 and was known nationwide as "Carmageddon" because of traffic chaos that could have resulted.
• Florida's DOT won the People's Choice Award for a $44.8 million project that replaced a swinging bridge that caused traffic tie-ups in the Titus area with a fixed span over the Indian River that benefited both motorists and boaters.

From the article:

"Each of these award winning projects, while serving local and regional needs, is a critical component of the vital transportation network that provides benefits to all users," said Jill Ingrassia, managing director of government relations and traffic safety advocacy at AAA. ...