Date:  Monday, April 20, 2009

Contact: Al Gilson - 509-324-6015

SPOKANE – Gov. Chris Gregoire and the Washington State Department of Transportation announced that two more Washington Jobs Now projects in Eastern Washington were advertised for private contractor bids today, April 20, with funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). An additional project will be advertised Monday, April 27.

“Getting ARRA funds moving into the economy as quickly as possible is a crucial part of our recovery strategy,” said Gregoire. “In this case we have the added benefit of preserving our highways, which keeps our economy moving by making it easier to move goods and services.”

“We are creating jobs in Washington with ARRA funds,” said Paula Hammond, Washington Transportation Secretary. “The positive impact of this project will be seen not only in the jobs it supports but also in the long-term improvement of highways that are vital to the economic health of Eastern Washington.”

These two projects, on US 395 in Stevens County, are pavement resurfacing jobs on adjacent segments of the highway — the first, from Loon Lake to Immel Road, which is north of Chewelah, was advertised today. The second paving project, Spokane/Stevens County Line (north of Deer Park) to the vicinity of Loon Lake, will be advertised to bidders next Monday.

“These highway sections on US 395 are in dire need of resurfacing,” said Keith Metcalf, WSDOT Eastern Region Administrator. “Our tight preservation budget had forced us to put these jobs on the back burner until the ARRA funding became available.”

Bids will be opened and a contract awarded in May. Construction should begin in June. The two projects total $11.4 million, supporting more than 120 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:
US 395/Spokane County Line to Loon Lake

US 395/Loon Lake to Immel Road

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