District 8’s Dave Fratangeli Receives National Award

​District 8 Design Senior Project Manager Dave Fratangeli isn't one to brag or promote himself. He lets his work do the talking.

In the case of the 322-036 project – the design and construction of a diverging diamond interchange in Lancaster County – his work shouts.

He is the recipient of the American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE) 2023 National Project of the Year Award in the Under $20 Million category for his work as design project manager on the project.

At the time of its opening in 2021 at the Route 222/Route 322 Interchange in Ephrata and West Earl townships, Lancaster County, it was only the state's second interchange of its kind in operation and the first in District 8. A second DDI – the third in the state – opened in District 8 that year at Interstate 83 and Route 851 (Exit 4) on York County.

The $10.9 million project included pavement resurfacing, reconstruction and widening, ramp reconfiguration, new traffic signals, drainage, signs, sidewalks, storm water management and highway lighting. While the DDI configuration was already is unique in Pennsylvania, this interchange had the added component of providing shared lanes for bicycles and horse and buggies due to the interchange's use by the Amish community

It's completion vastly improved the previous conventional diamond interchange where safety and congestion were ongoing issues.

Projects submitted for the award were judged based on a wide range of criteria, including complexity, use of innovation, social and economic considerations, safety, aesthetics, sustainability and whether the project met or exceeded customer needs. 

Acting Assistant District Executive for Design Ben Singer accepted the award at a June ceremony in Atlanta, but he made no bones about who the award rightfully belonged to.

"Dave demonstrated great project management and leadership skills to deliver the complex Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) at the US 222/322 interchange in northeastern Lancaster County," Ben said.  "He took ownership of the project from the beginning in design until the project was completed in construction.  He made sure he was involved in each aspect of the project delivery process working closely with his design consultant and more importantly the project stakeholders."

According to Ben, despite his quiet demeanor, Dave proved to be an excellent communicator.

"Dave did a great job of working with the various groups that represent the different modes of transportation that travel through the interchange daily, including non-motorized vehicles such as the Plain Sect Community. He listened to their concerns about the change in traffic patterns and worked with them to come up with solutions that would best address their concerns without compromising the purpose of the project," he said. "The success of the project was largely due to Dave coordinating, working, and leading with various groups, from design, construction, maintenance, and other project stakeholders toward a common goal, which was improving traffic flow and safety at the interchange."

"Project Manager Dave Fratangeli exhibited great leadership which was integral to the success of the US 322/222 DDI project. Mr. Fratangeli was very responsive and proactive in coordinating with the consultant design team, PennDOT support units, agencies and stakeholders," said Robert Wills, of York-based project design consultant firm Whitman, Requardt & Associates, LLP (WRA).

Assistant District Executive for Construction Kevin Keefe, who currently serves as acting district executive, said Dave's commitment resulted in a well-designed project that, given its complexity, was completed with as few headaches as possible to the public and contractors. It also resulted in a project that met the intended goal of improving safety and operations at the interchange.

"I'm proud of Dave for the excellent work he did with the Lancaster County diverging diamond interchange," Kevin said. "This new interchange was successful largely due to his efforts. I congratulate him for this well-deserved award."