The ongoing transformation of Buffalo’s waterfront took another step forward Wednesday as the results of a statewide competition on what to do with the Skyway were unveiled.

More than 100 initial submissions came from across the state, the nation and as far away as Italy, India and China.

This is all part of the state’s Aim for the Sky: Competition to Reimagine the Buffalo Skyway Corridor.

PHOTOS: A glimpse at the submissions

The top 16 submissions were announced Wednesday morning and are on display inside the Buffalo and Erie County Library downtown for public viewing.

Earlier this year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the national competition, looking for creative ways to re-imagine the Skyway and find new uses for it.

A little geography and history for those unfamiliar: the Skyway is a four-lane limited access expressway that extends about four miles along the city’s Buffalo River and Lake Erie waterfront.

What was once a major connector built in 1953 for truck traffic to small and large factories and steel plants, many of which have closed, now services daily commuter traffic from the southtowns.

The competition itself was open to individuals or teams representing the nation’s top urban designers, economists, planners and architects.

Submissions include Skyway 2.0, Skyway River Loop, Buffalo Sky Beach and Sky Scape, all with different and unique takes on the current roadway.

Some of the proposals also called for the complete removal of the structure to make way for more development.

State leaders say they’re impressed with the number of people who have grand designs on creating a new vision for Buffalo.

The expert panel of judges to this point included Empire State Development Chair Howard Zemsky, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and New York’s Secretary of State.

“You’ve got a full range," Zemsky said. "The community has presented with an interesting, very eclectic mix of great ideas as it relates to the Skyway. So I think you know as you look at it you should note that. It’s an amazing body of work.”

Another panel will review the narrowed list.

Winners will be announced in the coming weeks.

Once the top submission has been selected, the first place winner will receive $100,000.

The public has until September 13 to view the drawings and submit questions.