Gov. Gregoire, WSDOT Secretary Hammond announce first ground breaking with recovery act funding

For Immediate Release: April 30, 2009

ELLENSBURG � Gov. Chris Gregoire and Washington State Department of Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond today celebrated the start of construction on the first of Washington�s 181 state and local highway projects funded by American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

�This first ground breaking signifies an important step in our state�s economic recovery,� said Gregoire. �Not only are we getting people to work and federal dollars moving through our economy, Washington this week became one of the few states in the country that has obligated more than half of the federal highway ARRA funds. I commend Sec. Hammond and her team for reaching this milestone 60 days ahead of schedule.�

Once this $2.5 million preservation project is complete, drivers will experience a smoother, safer driving surface. WSDOT will also enhance drivability with updated safety features such as guardrails, signing, and striping. The project will open to traffic by mid-summer.

Secretary Hammond was joined by Rep. Judy Clibborn, Ellensburg Mayor Nancy Lillquist, Columbia Asphalt and its contractor crews and their families, and Mark Anderson of Anderson Hay & Grain in Ellensburg and WSDOT staff for the start of construction on the I-90 Yakima River to West Ellensburg Paving project.

"The main goals behind the Recovery package are to put people to work and get our economy back on track. This project exemplifies those goals and will be an engine for job creation and economic investment for communities from Ellensburg to Thorpe,� said Senator Maria Cantwell.

�After several months of hard work preparing, planning, and getting our projects advertised, today we are recognizing the people who are directly benefitting from the investments � those men and women who are being put to work because of these stimulus dollars,� said Hammond.

In addition to this project, the ARRA has funded four other pavement rehabilitation and preservation projects on I-90 and will allow WSDOT to upgrade traffic cameras along Snoqualmie Pass.

�The Act requires states to deliver half of their formula highway funds by June 29. By meeting this requirement two months ahead of schedule we are now in line for any undistributed funds from other states,� said Secretary Hammond.

For more information about the I-90 Yakima River to west Ellensburg resurfacing project or other federally funded projects, please visit our project Web page:
www.wsdot.wa.gov/funding/stimulus


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.