Preservation Delaware Inc., a statewide nonprofit group that advocates saving historic resources, has honored Department of Transportation Secretary Nathan Hayward and others involved in rebuilding Smith Bridge near Centreville.

The award given to Hayward called the bridge construction a "masterpiece project."

Hayward, who decided to scrap a DelDOT design for a two-lane modern bridge after area residents objected, accepted an award from the group's board of directors at its monthly meeting last week.

The span was reopened Jan. 11 as the only one-lane covered bridge built by the state in modern times.

The board praised DelDOT's for "excellence in context-sensitive design" in rebuilding the bridge to blend in with the historic homes in the area, said spokeswoman Joan Hazelton.

Preservation Delaware also recognized Calvin Weber and Douglas Phinney of DelDOT's bridge engineering staff, who worked closely with area residents to develop the historically sensitive design.