Gov. Bev Perdue announced today that work will begin in April on the state’s first nine highway and bridge projects funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The contracts total $36.3 million and were awarded today by Transportation Secretary Gene Conti to the lowest respective bidders, as required by state law. A list of the projects is attached.
“These first road projects will create a wide range of jobs throughout North Carolina and can address some of our most pressing, ready-to-go infrastructure needs,” Perdue said.
The projects are located in Brunswick, Camden, Currituck, Gaston, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Scotland and Stanly counties. Two projects, one located in Alamance County and one in Forsyth/Stokes counties, were let to contract on March 17 and will be awarded once the respective low bidders demonstrate that they have met “good faith effort” requirements in attempting to reach the disadvantaged business enterprise goals set forth in the contracts. The disadvantaged business enterprise goals were met or exceeded on the nine contracts awarded.
The bids received on all 11 economic recovery projects let to contract in March came in more than 19 percent, or nearly $15.8 million, below NCDOT estimates. Work on all contracts can start as soon as April 27, with the exception of the Currituck County bridge replacement project, which will begin no sooner than July 1 due to an environmental moratorium.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, every $1 million spent on transportation creates 30 jobs, and according to the construction industry, every dollar invested in transportation trickles down into the economy six times.
In addition to helping create jobs, the nine projects awarded will complete needed infrastructure improvements. They include four widening projects that will help improve mobility and reduce congestion; three construction projects that will extend key corridors and provide regional access; and two bridge replacement projects, one of which will replace the state’s fourth oldest bridge still in use.
“Each of these projects reflects local priorities that, in many cases, have been delayed or unfunded in the past,” Conti said. “We have an ongoing dialogue with our planning organizations across the state to determine which projects are most needed and will provide the greatest potential for economic development.”
NCDOT received a total of $838 million through the economic recovery plan, including $735 million for highway and bridge projects and $103 million for transit. In February, Gov. Perdue announced 70 highway and bridge projects that would be let to contract between March and June using the first half of NCDOT’s recovery funds. The highway and bridge projects being paid for through the remaining funding will be announced next month.
The main factors considered were whether the projects could be let to contract within 120 days of the Feb. 17 bill signing and the role they play in meeting NCDOT’s overarching goals of safety, mobility and infrastructure health. The legislation also specifies that projects in economically distressed areas should be given priority, and all but three projects are in counties that fall in that category.
Officials selected projects diverse in size, type and geographic location to help benefit a wide range of industry partners, as well as ensure equitable distribution of funds. Most of the projects have been approved as part of NCDOT’s seven-year Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.
Gov. Perdue and Secretary Conti are also working with Sen. Kay Hagan, Rep. Mel Watt and the rest of North Carolina’s Congressional delegation to pursue discretionary grant money included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to use for the $300-million replacement of the Yadkin River Bridge on I-85 in Davidson and Rowan counties.
Along with awarding these economic recovery projects, Secretary Conti also approved 10 contracts for bridge replacements located in Beaufort, Bladen, Columbus, Davidson, Edgecombe, Franklin, Haywood, Sampson, Richmond and Watauga counties to be paid for through traditional funding. A list of these projects is also attached.
The N.C. Board of Transportation delegated Secretary Conti authority to award contracts for highway projects in accordance with Gov. Perdue’s Executive Order No. 2. The board will meet on Thursday, April 2 at 9 a.m. in Raleigh to consider other matters that remain under its purview.
For more information about recovery funding for infrastructure improvements in North Carolina, as well as other NCDOT projects and activities, visit www.ncdot.gov.
