Date:  Monday, March 22, 2010

Contact: Mike Westbay, WSDOT Region Communications Manager, 509-577-1617 (Yakima)
Moe Davari, WSDOT Project Engineer, 509-577-1872 (Richland)

Washington State Department of Transportation - News
South Central Region – P.O. Box 12560 - Yakima, WA 98909-2560

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ARRA funds improve safety and drivability on I-82 and create area jobs in Yakima County

YAKIMA – The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) recently awarded a second tier Recovery Act contract for the I-82 Granger to Grandview Eastbound Dowel Bar Retrofit and Concrete Rehabilitation project to the Penhall Company of Rogers, Minnesota for the winning bid of $4.8 million.

“We are thankful that our delivery record and the bidding climate are allowing WSDOT to construct the second tier ARRA projects in our communities where roadways are deteriorating and jobs are needed”, said Don Whitehouse, WSDOT Regional Administrator.

Project Benefits
• Preservation - Restores the structural integrity of the roadway and extends the life of the pavement.
• Safety - Provides a smoother roadway to enhance driver safety. Restores signing, striping, and other basic safety features.
• Jobs - We estimate that the total project cost of $5.5 million, will support 55 jobs, which includes design and construction jobs, jobs producing materials for the project, and other jobs in the local community.

For more information on this project visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i82/ebgrangertograndview/.

Washington State is administering the Recovery Act investments with an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability. Gov. Gregoire has created a 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 states’ recovery efforts and root out waste and fraud. This combined oversight will ensure taxpayer dollars are not wasted.

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WSDOT's mission is to keep people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic or by dialing 5-1-1.

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