Gov. Gregoire, Sec. Hammond announce federal recovery awards for transportation paving projects

For Immediate Release: May 27, 2009

GOLDENDALE � Gov. Chris Gregoire and the Washington State Department of Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond today announced that Granite Northwest, Inc. was awarded two paving contracts funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

The Yakima-based paving contractor submitted low bids for a $3 million paving contract for 12 miles of US 97 and a $370,000 chip seal paving contract for six miles of SR 14, both in Klickitat County. Both contracts will support an estimated 40 direct and indirect jobs in local communities.

�Getting these contract awards completed and in the implementation phase is critical for Washington�s economy,� said Gregoire. �Because our state has acted quickly and efficiently with our Recovery Act dollars, we are now eligible for other state�s unspent funds, which will help create additional jobs.�

�These are jobs in one of the most economically distressed counties in the state,� said Hammond. �These projects transform federal dollars into dozens of jobs and improve the ride on several urban and rural roads.�

WSDOT and the contractor plan to begin construction on both projects in June and be complete by late summer, depending on weather conditions and the contractor�s schedule.

US 97 is a major freight route and an essential link between central and southwest Washington. Satus Pass carries an average of 3,900 vehicles per day. The project will repair existing pavement and extend the life of the roadway, in addition to providing a smoother and safer ride for motorists.

The SR 14 chip seal project preserves six miles of SR 14 by chip sealing the roadway. SR 14 is a major east-west route for freight traffic. This section of highway carries an average of 1,800 vehicles per day, a large percentage of them trucks.

For more information about the US 97 - Centerville Road to Bickleton Road and Satus Pass paving project, please visit the project Web page at: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/PavementRehab/US97CentervilleToBickleton/.

For more information about the SR 14 chip seal project, please visit the project Web site at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/pavementrehab/SR14CliffsRdtoChamberlain.

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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Contact: Chris Tams, WSDOT Columbia Gorge Project Engineer, (866) 279-0730 toll-free (Vancouver)
Abbi Russell, WSDOT Communications, (360) 905-2058 (Vancouver)