Date:  Monday, June 29, 2009

Contact: Lloyd Brown - WSDOT Communications 360-705-7076

WSDOT and Columbia Asphalt nearing completion of first state stimulus project

State stimulus spending on transportation projects is keeping workers on payrolls and providing much needed repairs to aging Washington roads and bridges. As crews near completion on Washington’s first stimulus project on I-90 near Ellensburg, work on other recovery projects is ongoing in every corner of the state. The I-90 Yakima River to west Ellensburg Paving project, the first of four ARRA projects on I-90, is finishing ahead of schedule, on budget, and is one of the first American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Projects to finish construction.

“We’re having success right out of the gate delivering stimulus projects, said Paula Hammond, Washington Transportation Secretary. “These types of paving and road preservation projects provide safer roads for drivers and help keep workers employed.

WSDOT and local governments continue to advance more projects for bidding and construction, with 54 of the total 180 projects either awarded or under construction. More than half of the initial Recovery Act projects have been advertised to contractors.

WSDOT reported May employment data for 59 active projects that provided workers more than $1.1 million in payroll through Washington’s state and local Recovery Act projects. Recovery Act-related employment is expected to increase in the coming months as more projects advance to construction and additional projects are advertised. Washington transit agencies recently received more than $20 million in grants for vehicle purchases and other improvement projects.

The Federal Highway Administration provided $492 million for state and local highway projects in Washington state, advancing projects and jobs to address high-priority highway preservation needs and fund low-cost, high-benefit transportation system improvements. According to the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), every $1 spent to preserve a road enables agencies to avoid spending $6-$14 to rebuild one that has deteriorated.

WSDOT has obligated $243.3 million (71%) of $344.6 million. The Recovery Act required states to obligate 50% of state funds before June 29, 2009. Local governments have obligated more than 67% of local funds, $102.7 million of $152.1 million, and have until March 1, 2010 to obligate the rest.

Washington state will deliver more highway projects with federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds than first envisioned, thanks to the recent trend toward lower construction bids. Between July 1, 2008 and June 15, 2009, WSDOT awarded 163 contracts, 139 of which came in less than the engineers’ estimate. The average amount below the estimate for these 139 contracts was 18 percent. As of June 15, WSDOT has awarded 21 state stimulus contracts worth 95.7 million. In total those projects have come in under the engineer’s estimate by 16 percent.

Contractor bids on city and county stimulus projects around the state are also coming in lower than expected.

Washington state is administering the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act investments with an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability. Gov. Gregoire created a Web site, www.recovery.wa.gov/, so every Washingtonian can see where tax dollars are going and hold government accountable for the results. On the federal level, President Obama has appointed Vice President Biden to oversee all states’ recovery efforts and to root out waste and fraud. This combined oversight will ensure taxpayer dollars are put to good use and recharge the economy.

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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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