The International Road Federation (IRF) has officially opened the 2011 Global Road Achievement Awards (GRAA) Competition. Created by the IRF in 2000, this worldwide annual competition seeks to honor and recognize surface transport projects, accomplishments, and technologies that demonstrate excellence and innovation. Since inception, more than 80 organizations from two dozen countries have been recognized for their contributions in the advancement of transportation development worldwide.

The competition is open to all public and private sector organizations involved in the industry. There is no limit to the number of entries an organization may submit. Entries are open to projects and technologies that may have been recognized in other award programs, provided they have not been recognized in an IRF Global Road Achievement Award competition during any previous year (unsuccessful applications can be resubmitted for reconsideration).

This year, the IRF will be accepting awards submissions in each of the following twelve categories:

* Advocacy.
* Construction Methodology.
* Design.
* Environmental Mitigation.
* Innovative Finance.
* Maintenance Management.
* Program Management.
* Research.
* Safety.
* Technology, Equipment and Manufacturing.
* Traffic Management and Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS).
* Quality Management.

For more information about the GRAA Competition, including the 2011 GRAA Brochure and Application Form, please visit the GRAA web page or contact Magid Elabyad at

+1 703 535 1001 / melabyad@irfnews.org. The deadline for 2011 applications is April 15, 2011.

ABOUT IRF: Founded in 1948, the International Road Federation (IRF) is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization with members from the public, private and academic sectors in 90 countries worldwide. IRF promotes the development and maintenance of better, safer roads and road networks throughout the world, using technological solutions and management practices that provide maximum economic and social returns from road investment. For more information about IRF, please visit Better Roads, Better World | IRF.