<p>Oates Associates, a civil and structural engineering / architectural design firm, has received a Merit Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Illinois for the design of Governors' Parkway in Madison County, Illinois. The ACEC competition recognized more than 50 Illinois-based engineering firms for outstanding projects at a recent luncheon attended by 250 engineers, clients and government officials.</p>
<p>In response to continued residential and commercial growth in the Edwardsville area, the Madison County Highway Department decided to design and construct a new east-west route from I-55 to the entrance to Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville along a route acquired by IDOT more than 35 years ago.  Madison County hired Oates Associates to design the third phase of Governors' Parkway, a three-mile section consisting of three-lane pavement with a center two-way left turn lane, a bridge, several large culverts and three signalized intersections.  This new segment now connects a growing residential section of Edwardsville to I-55 on the east and the city's major retail section to the west.</p>
<p>Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in Collinsville, Illinois, and St. Louis.</p>
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