PITTSBURGH, PA – Lindy Paving has achieved an unprecedented milestone in the asphalt industry by earning its record-setting sixth Sheldon G. Hayes Award. This prestigious honor, presented by the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), recognizes Lindy’s exceptional work on the Interstate 90 reconstruction project in Erie County, Pennsylvania.
Award-Winning I-90 Reconstruction Project
The award-winning project involved the reconstruction of a seven-mile stretch of I-90, which connects Ohio and New York along Lake Erie. The comprehensive project included the rubblization of existing continuously reinforced concrete pavement and the placement of Superpave asphalt courses to correct cross slopes and vertical alignments.
“It was something new that nobody’s ever done before. It was interesting to do, but definitely a huge safety improvement,” said Project Manager Phil Hannah. “The paving and the excavation part of this job was huge, as far as quantity and coordination. There were so many other things going on that Superintendent Brian Kelly and Project Engineer Jake McAndry had to deal with every day. We think of this thing almost like a skyscraper, but it’s just sideways on the ground.”
Extensive Project Scope and Innovations
The full scope of the project was extensive, including the raising and widening of three overpass bridges, two mainline bridge replacements, and the construction of a teardrop roundabout interchange—the first of its kind in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Additionally, the project required excavation and placement of more than 325,000 cubic yards of embankment and rock to widen the interstate to 12 feet, along with drainage improvements, utility relocations, and improved highway lighting.
Logistical Challenges and Solutions
Coordination was central to the project’s success, as Paving Manager Greg Tomon explained. Most of the aggregate materials used on the job came from Michigan, traveling over 600 nautical miles by barge before being offloaded at the Erie docks. This required enhanced communication between all parties to prevent delays due to shipping schedules.
“It was over 600 miles,” Tomon said. “Those barges had to travel through the Great Lakes.”
Originally predicted to be a four-year project, Lindy, serving as general contractor, reconfigured the schedule to complete the high-quality pavement in only three years, providing significant cost savings to taxpayers.
Superior Quality and Technical Excellence
To meet quality and production demands, Lindy positioned a portable 400-ton-per-hour drum asphalt plant within nine miles of the job site. The company employed dual pavers, paving in echelon, to place the Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA) mats while minimizing temperature differences between them.
The I-90 work achieved an impressive International Roughness Index (IRI) score of 28.9 inches per mile, well below the 35 needed to earn Pennsylvania’s full pavement ride quality incentive bonus.
About Lindy Paving
As part of The Lindy Group team of companies, Lindy Paving continues to demonstrate its commitment to quality, innovation, and excellence in asphalt paving throughout the region. This sixth Sheldon G. Hayes Award further solidifies Lindy Paving’s reputation as an industry leader in asphalt paving excellence.
For more information about The Lindy Group and our services, contact us today.
The Sheldon G. Hayes Award project details featured in this article were originally published in the Spring 2025 edition of NAPA Quarterly. Lindy Paving, part of The Lindy Group, is proud to have this achievement recognized by the National Asphalt Pavement Association.