Date:  Friday, April 03, 2009

Contact: Jeff Adamson, North Central Region Communications Manager, Wenatchee,
(509) 667-2815, Cell (509) 669-8778
Bob Romine, North Central Region Project Engineer, Wenatchee, (509) 667-2880

OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire and the Washington State Department of Transportation announced that three more Washington Jobs Now projects in Eastern Washington were advertised for private contractor bids today, April 6, with funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

"I am glad to see these construction projects go out to bid," Gregoire said. "These projects will employ more than 40 Washingtonians. This is great news in light of the recent announcement of the nation's increasing unemployment rate, and another example of how Washington State is quickly getting federal stimulus money flowing through our economy in an accountable way."

“The ARRA investment in Washington Jobs Now projects supports desperately needed jobs and stimulates local economies,” said Paula Hammond, Washington Transportation Secretary. “All three of these highways need resurfacing, but were without funding until the governor and Legislature included them in the supplemental transportation budget that included federal monies.”

All three projects -- one in Okanogan County and two in Grant County – are highway preservation projects. In Okanogan County, the project paves 16 miles of SR 155 from Omak east, 16 miles toward the Disautel Pass summit. In Grant County, one project paves all 28 miles of SR 243 along the Columbia River, between the Vernita Bridge and the Vantage Bridge, and the other paves all 24 miles of SR 262 from SR 17 to SR 26, past the Potholes Reservoir.

Bids will be opened and a contract awarded early in May. Construction should begin in June. The three projects total $4.1 million, generating more than 40 jobs.

Washington received $492 million in federal ARRA funds for state highway investments, which included $341 million that will fund 34 state highway projects. WSDOT will distribute $170 million in ARRA funds by July 1.

For more details, visit the project Web pages:

SR 155 Omak Eastward Chip Seal
www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/pavementrehab/sr155omakeast/
 

SR 243 Mattawa Vicinity Chip Seal
www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/pavementrehab/sr243mattawaseal/
 

SR 262 Potholes Reservoir Area Chip Seal
www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/pavementrehab/sr262potholes/
 
Washington State is administering the Recovery Act investments with an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability. Gov. Gregoire has created a new website, www.recovery.wa.gov, enabling every Washingtonian to see where their tax dollars are going and hold government accountable for the results. On the federal level, President Obama has appointed Vice President Biden, a proven and aggressive Inspector General, to oversee all state’s recovery efforts and root out waste and fraud. This combined oversight will ensure taxpayer dollars aren’t wasted. 

                                                ###

WSDOT keeps people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, including pictures, videos, news and blogs go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news. Get real time weather, traffic, construction alerts, pass conditions, ferry, railroad, and airline information at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic or dial 5-1-1. TTY users - call 1-800-833-6388. This news release is available electronically on the web at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Regions/NorthCentral/news/.

< Back to News Home