PARIS, TX For a couple of years now, motorists have enjoyed a new "gateway" bridge across the Red River on their way to scenic southeastern Oklahoma, or from there into scenic and historic Red River County in Northeast Texas.

Construction on the State Highway 37 Bridge across the Red River began in February 2013 and is now considered complete; thanks to a team of Texas Department of Transportation professionals based in the Paris District and contractor Austin Bridge and Road LP. Coming in early and under the $14.5 million budget earned the team a 2015 Texas Project Award.

The Texas Project Awards were created by the Association of General Contractors and TxDOT to honor industry professionals whose work distinguishes them for upholding the special cooperative spirit it takes to complete complex transportation projects and solve difficult problems. Each year, ten construction and two design awards are presented to contractors and TxDOT professionals whose contributions exemplify this type of excellence.

In August 2016 one of those construction awards went to Dan Perry, an Assistant Area Engineer in the Paris District, and his SH 37 bridge team for their cooperation, collaboration and engineering skills.

The SH 37 bridge team includes his wife, Ellen Perry, a transportation and maintenance engineer; construction inspectors Troy Scholl and Richard Floyd; materials and process inspector Randy Floyd; and construction record keeper Shari Coker.

"Ellen designed the bridge so it can be lengthened in the future if need be," Perry said. "She worked closely with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in getting the design done. Our team also worked closely with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Lots of agreements were in play here to get the bridge done."