We are convinced that the empowered approach will help us more effectively fulfill our mission and the expectations of the citizenry. We are committed to its success. Despite undergoing a major Divisional organization change, Federal Fiscal Year 1998 was another successful year in the delivery of bridge projects. While the number of projects delivered were significantly down from 1997, they were mostly larger and more complicated. Credit for the delivery of these projects goes foremost to the project teams and to supporting players in the Bureau and the Department.
Credit also goes to the public for their participation and support.
The Bridge Design Division recently developed its first Strategic Plan, fashioned to support the Department's Strategic Plan. The strategies arising out of the plan will be the basis for developing action plans that will further enable us to fulfill our mission. As the State of Maine continues its commitment to good roads and safe bridges, we in the Bridge Design Division are poised to confront the challenges that are before us. Most people hear about projects only after the needs have been identified and programmed. The following outlines and explains the entire process that the Department goes through to bring bridge projects from conception to fruition.