21 North Carolina Highway Project Grants Awarded

8/31/2009 -- Raleigh -- North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue announced today that 21 contracts totaling $50.8 million have been awarded for highway and bridge projects across North Carolina, including eight projects funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The contracts were awarded by the N.C. Department of Transportation to the lowest respective bidder, as required by state law. A list of the projects is attached.

“These projects are putting people to work, making critical improvements to our roads and bridges, and helping the local economies in communities across the state,” said Gov. Perdue

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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 generates $6 in economic impact.

The eight recovery projects awarded are located in Davidson, Franklin, Guilford, Hertford, Jackson, Nash, Surry, Transylvania, Wayne and counties. The 13 other projects awarded are located in Brunswick, Dare, Durham, Granville, Guilford, Harnett, Mecklenburg, Pamlico, Person, Robeson, Union and Wake counties. Work will start on most of the projects in late September or early October (see attached list for respective start dates).

The bids on another project to renovate the rest area on I-85 in Cabarrus County were rejected because the bids were not properly submitted. The project will be rebid in October.

The bids received on all 22 projects advertised came in nearly 16 percent, about $9.8 million, below NCDOT estimates.

For more information about funding for infrastructure improvements in North Carolina, as well as other NCDOT projects and activities, visit www.ncdot.gov.

Source: North Carolina Governor