From the Regional Administrator
Construction season is starting to ramp up and we have some items of note. First, the much-discussed stimulus brings project to our area, and several local agencies have joined forces in a road construction map. Remember, “Give ‘em A Brake” when you encounter construction crews out on the highways and local roads.
As always, if you have any questions on items in this newsletter, or other transportation issues, please let me know. Give me a call at (509) 324-6010 or drop me an e-mail at metcalk@wsdot.wa.gov .
Keith Metcalf
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“Stimulus” funding gets paving and HAR jobs moving
About $20 million of this season’s work is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Paving projects on US 2, US, 395, and SR 206 have been financed with these dollars. In addition, the highway advisory radio (HAR) stations on SR 20 and US 395 are part of this package.
On tap is asphalt resurfacing on US 2 in Pend Oreille County from the SR 211 junction to Newport, on US 395 from the Spokane/Stevens County line to Immel Road north of Chewelah, and on SR 206 from the US 2 junction to Bruce Road. We will use about 125,000 tons of asphalt on these projects.
Also, permanent HAR stations will be installed on SR 20 near Kettle Falls and Republic plus at Hatton Coulee on US 395.
These projects will be completed in 2009 and the work will support over 200 jobs in our area.
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Local Agencies Stimulus Projects Funded through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA)
Over the past four months our Region Local Programs Office has been helping our six rural counties through the fast paced seemingly ever changing eligibility requirements and timelines for shovel ready local agency stimulus projects. Our staff worked with the Spokane Regional Transportation Council (SRTC), Quad-County Regional Transportation Planning Organization (RTPO), Palouse RTPO, and the Northeast Washington RTPO to get through this process.
SRTC worked through their Transportation Technical Committee to identify eight viable local agency projects within Spokane County totaling approximately $10.4 million. Our six rural counties took the lead identifying city and town projects as well as their own county road projects. An additional 11 projects totaling $5.3 million were able to be added to the list.
Many new requirements have been added to the already demanding federal reporting system pertaining specifically to the ARRA funds, such as; contract provisions requiring the contractor to submit monthly employment reports, as well as the local lead agency and Local Programs Office reporting on all the significant contract administration dates from advertisement to completion.
You can follow this internet ink to local agency ARRA projects: www.wsdot.wa.gov/funding/stimulus/map .
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Spokane area road construction map available
The 2009 Spokane Regional Road Construction Map is hot off the presses and ready for distribution.
The map is a joint effort of the Spokane Regional Transportation Council, Spokane County, Spokane Valley, the City of Spokane, and the Washington State Department of Transportation.
The map shows the major projects that will affect traffic county-wide during this construction season. Information provided includes the type of project, where it will be located, when it will begin and how long it will take to complete.
Since publication of the map, more projects have been scheduled for this construction season due to funding becoming available from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Added construction projects mean drivers will need to be alert for crews on the roads and to check the weekly construction and traffic updates on our web site.
To see what projects are planned for this year, pick up your copy of the 2009 Spokane Regional Road Construction Map at our office at 2714 N. Mayfair. An electronic version of the map is also available at: 2009 Spokane Region Construction Map.