Bredesen Announces Letting of First Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act Projects

NASHVILLE – Governor Phil Bredesen announced today that 10 local bridges will be the first projects in Tennessee to be funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The 10 bridge replacement projects are scheduled for a construction letting on March 20, which means work could be underway on the projects by the end of March.

 

“These 10 bridge projects will bring much needed private industry jobs to areas of the state in need of economic investment and will create a safer, more efficient bridge system for all of us,” said Bredesen. “Selecting local bridge projects also allows us to ease the burden of local governments, because funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act do not require local matching funds.”

 

All 10 bridges are owned, maintained and operated by local governments. Normally, local governments are required to provide a 20 percent match in order to receive bridge funds; however, that match is waived under the ARRA.

 

TDOT began advertising the projects for the March 20 bid letting on Monday, March 2. Interested contractors will pick up plans and submit sealed bids to TDOT during the next few weeks. On March 20, TDOT will open the sealed bids and announce the lowest bidder. The contracts will then be awarded and a pre-construction meeting scheduled with the project contractor. Once complete, work will start on the project.

 

“TDOT staff has worked very hard over the past few months preparing for the influx of funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “These are the first of many projects that will be funded through the ARRA, bringing thousands of jobs to Tennesseans.”

 

Under the ARRA, at least half of all TDOT highway and bridge funds must be obligated within 120 days. TDOT plans to let all remaining ARRA funded projects in May and June. All ARRA funds will be under contract and projects should be underway this summer. TDOT and the Department of Economic and Community Development estimate some 24,000 jobs could be created through the ARRA infrastructure funding for Tennessee.

 

For more information on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, visit www.recovery.gov or visit www.tn.gov/tdot and click on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act link in the middle of the page.

 

The local bridge replacement projects to be funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009 are:

 

Carroll County - Westport Road Bridges over the Big Sandy River

Carter County - Wilbur Dam Road (Steel Bridge Road) Bridge over the Watauga River

Cocke County - Splashaway Road over Sinking Creek

Fentress County - Delk Creek Road Bridge over Delk Creek

Gibson County - McMurry Road Bridges over Davis Creek, Reagan Creek and other branches

Giles County - Earl Townsend Road Bridge over the West Fork of Shoal Creek

Hardeman County - Teague Road Bridge over Clover Creek

Hawkins County - Okolona Road Bridge over Alexander Creek

Macon County - West Wixtown Road Bridge over the West Fork of Long Creek

Monroe County - Belcher Gap Road Bridge over Notchy Creek