BENTON HARBOR — Three organizations involved in the construction of a local project connecting communities in Michiana have been recognized for excellence by the Asphalt Pavement Association of Michigan (APAM).

Rieth-Riley Construction Co. – Benton Harbor Plant, Wightman & Associates, Inc., and the Michigan Department of Transportation Southwest Region/Coloma TSC received an Award of Merit in the Recreational Projects category of the 2014 APAM/MDOT Asphalt Paving Awards. The recognition is for the role each played in Phase I of the Niles Charter Township section of the Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail. The organizations accepted the honor during a ceremony recently held at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing.

“We are thrilled to be recognized as part of the team that worked on this important community project. At Wightman and Associates our philosophy centers around creating great places that help people flourish. The Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail is doing just that by improving the way people and organizations connect,” said Steve Carlisle, director of Engineering at WAI.

Reith-Riley was the trail paving contractor and Wightman & Associates served as design and construction engineer. MDOT Southwest Region owns this phase of the project. Award judging criteria included overall project quality, appearance, smoothness, final finishes and degree of difficulty.

“The award from APAM means a great deal to all of us at Rieth-Riley Construction. Our employees go to great lengths to do things right, deliver quality, and pay attention to the smallest details. The success of this project is an example of what can be achieved when MDOT, the engineer, and the contractor work together as a team. To have those efforts recognized by APAM for our work on the Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail is truly an honor. We would also like to express our appreciation to Hoffman Bros, Inc., for their fine work preparing the grade, making a great paving job possible,” stated Larry Adams, Superintendent at Rieth-Riley Construction.

The Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail is a collaborative project to create a 34-mile trail connecting Niles, Michigan, to Mishawaka, Indiana. The 3.3 miles section recognized by the APAM award opened in August 2014 and connects Brandywine Creek Nature Park to the state line. The completed trail will connect commuters, students, families, and tourists to four universities and several schools, four downtown areas, parks and recreation facilities, historical and cultural attractions, and businesses.

“Niles Township residents are proud of their new 3.3-mile addition to the Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail. Our engineering, construction, and MDOT teams went above and beyond to build a first-rate, modern facility that will serve the people of this region for generations to come.” said Niles Charter Township Park Commissioner Harry Thibault.