Road construction can be a nuisance when it holds up traffic and causes detours, but Austin residents can take comfort in the fact that at least they are getting a quality road out of it.

The city Engineering Department and Doyle Conner construction out of Rochester have received a Merit Award from the Concrete Paving Association for their work last year on Eighth Street SW from First Avenue to Ninth Avenue.

Assistant City Engineer Steven Lang was one of the individuals recognized for work on the project.

He said the job went smoothly, but no more smoothly than usual in Austin.

"It turned out to be a good project," he said.

The award is given based on a comparison of submitted entries to similar roads across the state. Austin's project was judged to be the best among those roads.

A group of engineers, suppliers and concrete paving association representatives travel the state ranking roads based on a number of criteria including aesthetics, ridability and construction materials.

"This is no small accomplishment," City Engineer Jon Erichson said at the city council meeting Monday night, as he introduced some of the individuals involved.

Besides Lang, other individuals recognized for the project include Inspector and Project Manager Dennis Bissen, Senior Engineering Technician Troy Tigner, Engineering Technician Jay Jessen and Doyle Conner Company.

Matt Merritt can be reached at 434-2214 or by email

at matt.merritt@austindailyherald.com