RALEIGH - N.C. Department of Transportation Secretary Gene Conti
awarded a contract to resurface 6.7 miles of Interstate 85 from mile marker 7.3
in Cleveland County to mile marker 13.9 near Kings Mountain in Gaston County.
A $3 million contract was awarded
to Sloan Construction Co. of Duncan, S.C. Work can begin as early as June 25 and
be completed by Oct. 1.
Resurfacing I-85 is part of routine interstate maintenance. This project will
extend the lifespan of the pavement, improve safety and provide a smoother ride
for motorists.
This is one of 30 contracts
totaling $109.3 million awarded by Conti for highway and bridge projects across
North Carolina. NCDOT awarded the contracts to the lowest bidders, as required
by state law. The bids received on the projects awarded came in about 3.9
percent, or $4.4 million, below NCDOT estimates.
Since Gov. Bev Perdue took office
in January of 2009, NCDOT has awarded 631 highway contracts totaling $4.3
billion to ensure that all North Carolinians have access to jobs and
educational opportunities.
Gov. Perdue's proposed budget
continues to support an enhancing or expanding our transportation
infrastructure. In doing so, Gov. Perdue continues to support immediate
jobs in the construction sector and the goal of ensuring that our
transportation network facilitates access to jobs, education and healthcare for
the future.
According to the Federal Highway
Administration, every $1 million spent on transportation creates 30 jobs, and
according to the construction industry, every dollar invested in transportation
generates $6 in economic impact.