DES MOINES, IA The Asphalt Paving Association of Iowa (APAI) has announced a new awards program in conjunction with the APAI's 60th Anniversary in 2015.

The APAI program features several new awards, expanded categories and the opportunity for Iowa Department of Transportation (IowaDOT), City, County and Consulting Engineers to submit project award applications for the best local projects and paving programs in their region.

The new program includes expanded categories in the traditional smoothness and QMA Awards, an Environmental Sustainability Project Award, Municipal and County Paving Program Awards, the Consulting Engineer of the Year Award, and the introduction of the Robert M. Nady Award for the best overall paving project in the State of Iowa.

"The opportunity to involve local agencies, the IowaDOT and consulting engineers is an exciting addition to an already strong awards program," said Bill Rosener, Executive Vice President of the APAI. "Updating and improving the APAI Awards Program to include environmental, project design and program awards is only going to grow the popularity of the APAI Quality Paving Awards at our Annual Convention in December."