JULY 2, 2009 ISSUE
Feds Award 31 Contracts for More Than $73 Million for N.C. Highway Projects
Includes $15.2 Million for King Street Widening Project
N.C. Gov. Bev Perdue announced this week that 31 contracts totaling $73 million have been awarded for highway and bridge projects across North Carolina, including 11 projects funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. N.C. Transportation Secretary Gene Conti awarded the contracts to the lowest respective bidder, as required by state law.
“These JobsNOW recovery projects will help generate new jobs and economic development for North Carolina, as well as improve travel throughout our state,” Perdue said.
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 11 recovery projects awarded are located in Bertie, Davidson, Davie, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Guilford, Lee, Stokes, Transylvania and Watauga counties. The 20 other projects awarded are located in Anson, Buncombe, Cabarrus, Catawba Cumberland, Granville, Henderson, Iredell, Lincoln, Madison, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, New Hanover, Polk, Sampson, Stanly, Transylvania, Warren and Yancey counties.
Five additional projects let to contract in June will be awarded if the low bidder demonstrates that it has met “good faith effort” requirements in attempting to reach the disadvantaged business enterprise goals set forth in the contracts, and one project that was let as a potential cluster project—two separate projects that could be bid as one—will not be awarded. One project that was advertised for bid as a potential cluster project will not be awarded since the bids received on the individual projects were lower than the cluster bid. The bids received on all 36 projects let came in more than 22 percent, about $35.8 million, below NCDOT estimates.
The recovery project located in Watauga County includes:
-A $15.2 million contract awarded to Blythe Development Co. of Charlotte to widen 1.1 miles of Highway 421 (King Street) in downtown Boone. From Highway 321 at Hardin Street to east of Highway 194 at Jefferson Road, the road’s width currently varies between two and five lanes. This project will widen the two-lane segments to four lanes separated by a raised concrete median and the five-lane segments to six and eight lanes separated by a raised concrete median. Work can begin as early as July 27, with project completion set for December 31, 2011.
The outside travel lanes will be 14-feet wide (other lanes will be 12 feet) to accommodate bicycles and sidewalks will be built along both sides of the highway. In addition, Daniel Boone Drive will be realigned to tie into the existing Highway 421-221/Highway 194 intersection.
This project was selected for economic recovery funding because:
-NCDOT traffic studies show about 45,000 vehicles travel on this stretch of Highway 421 daily. That number is expected to increase by 1,000 vehicles each year. Widening the road will help ease congestion and reduce travel time;
-NCDOT identified this project as a priority, but it does not have funding available from traditional revenue sources to pay for the much-needed improvements. By using recovery money, NCDOT avoids delays and can move forward with the project; and
-Work could begin shortly after the project was awarded. The department had already completed the required environmental analysis and design work, and acquired the right of way needed.
Construction on the road will not occur during peak rush hour times to help reduce construction-related congestion. In addition, signs for detour routes will be displayed in designated areas to direct motorists around the work zone.
In conjunction with the Town of Boone, aesthetic enhancements will be made, which include landscaping, sidewalks, decorative signal poles and signal heads, concrete paver islands and water sewer relocation.
NCDOT has developed a Web site, available by clicking to www.ncdot.gov/projects/US421Widening/ , for the project that will be updated as construction progresses.
For more information about funding for infrastructure improvements in North Carolina, as well as other NCDOT projects and activities, click to www.ncdot.gov.
Community Interest
News & Notes
Events
Arts & Entertainment
