Date:  Monday, April 20, 2009

Contact: Colin Newell, WSDOT Project Engineer, (866) 713-2412 (toll-free, Chehalis)
Chris Tams, WSDOT Project Engineer, (866) 279-0730 (toll-free, Vancouver)
Abbi Russell, WSDOT Communications, (360) 905-2058 (Vancouver)

VANCOUVER – Gov. Gregoire and the Washington State Department of Transportation announced the advertisement of two construction contracts worth more than $9 million today, as Washington State continues delivering projects supported by the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The two projects – I-5, Koontz Road to Harrison Avenue paving and SR 14, Cliffs Road to Chamberlain-Goodnoe Road chip seal – are expected to support approximately 90 jobs and improve safety and mobility along critical stretches of highway in Lewis and Klickitat counties.

“Getting ARRA funds moving into the economy as quickly as possible is a crucial part of our recovery strategy,” said Gov. Gregoire. “Southwest Washington has seen a tough year. So it’s all the more important that recovery money for these projects will put more people to work and provide more efficient roadways.”

“These projects would not have been constructed this summer without the nearly $5 million in additional funding provided by the ARRA,” said Paula Hammond, Washington Transportation Secretary. “WSDOT is pleased to begin delivering two projects that will protect our valuable infrastructure while supporting jobs in Washington.”

I-5 in Lewis County
Construction on the $8.58 million I-5 paving project between Koontz Road and Harrison Avenue begins in June. Eight miles of interstate will receive a new layer of asphalt in this 13-mile stretch of roadway, excluding the newly built and paved I-5, Rush Road to 13th Street project area.

Paving I-5 preserves the interstate’s road surface, reduces maintenance costs and improves safety and mobility for all drivers.

This project is scheduled for construction in June and expected to be complete in October. For more information, please visit the project Web site at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/pavementrehab/I5ChamberWaytoHarrison.

SR 14 in Klickitat County
In Klickitat County, WSDOT is delivering a $600,000 project to chip seal six miles of SR 14 between Cliffs Road and Chamberlain-Goodnoe Road, approximately 23 miles east of Horsethief Lake State Park.

Chip sealing repairs roadway damage and extends the life of the pavement. This treatment improves safety for drivers by creating a highly skid-resistant surface and reducing glare.

This project is scheduled for construction in June and is expected to be complete in August. For more information, please visit the project Web site at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/pavementrehab/SR14CliffsRdtoChamberlain.

Washington State is administering the Recovery Act investments with an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability. Gov. Gregoire has created a new Web site, 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 aren’t wasted. 

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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, 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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