The U.S. 17 Highway Corridor project, for which Dennis Corporation provided engineering design services, recently received the 2010 Exemplary Human Environment Initiative (EHEI) Award from the Federal Highway Administration in the Process Improvements category. The project area which is home to many sweetgrass basket making stands is a Traditional Cultural Property eligible for listing on the National Register of Historical Places and is a rich cultural heritage for the Town of Mount Pleasant and the state of South Carolina.

Dennis Corporation’s Environmental Manager, Ms. Kally McCormick, served as the Environmental Project Manager for the five-mile project to widen US 17 from four to six lanes. Ms. McCormick was in charge of preparing an Environmental Assessment for the project, which included drafting a public participation plan, meeting with and interviewing over thirty sweetgrass basket makers, and coordinating resolution of adverse impacts to the Sweetgrass Basket Makers Corridor. Ms. McCormick said of the process, “The sweetgrass basket making community is an amazing group to work with. Their willingness to communicate coupled with an open-minded and dynamic project team helped to complete this project in record time.” Dennis Corporation, along with the South Carolina Department of Transportation and the Town of Mount Pleasant, made the U.S. 17 project an award-winning success.

The EHEI Award recognizes outstanding examples of transportation projects that either create or improve conditions for human activities while protecting the natural environment. The U.S. Highway 17 project was recognized in the Process Improvements category of the EHEI award. This category recognizes projects which have allowed for more efficient service delivery including public participation, scenario planning, acquisition innovations, and community outreach to encourage pride in the community.
Dennis Corporation is a South Carolina licensed civil engineering, surveying and construction management firm. Dennis Corporation’s specific fields of expertise include aviation engineering, civil infrastructure, construction management, construction services, environmental services, expert witness, geotechnical engineering, intelligent transportation systems, program management, special projects, surveying, traffic engineering, transportation engineering and water resources.