As part of our economic recovery efforts, this past week I sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation letting them know that North Carolina is pursuing discretionary grant funding to replace the Yadkin River bridge on I-85 in Rowan and Davidson counties and urging them to expedite the grant allocation process. The funding, which was included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is being awarded by USDOT on a competitive basis for important transportation improvements across the nation.
Governor Perdue and I, along with North Carolina’s Congressional delegation, agree that the Yadkin River bridge is an ideal candidate for this funding. The bridge is located on one of North Carolina’s most heavily traveled routes, and is critical to regional and statewide mobility. However, its $300 million price tag makes it difficult to fund through traditional means, especially given our current economy.
We hope to hear from Washington soon, and we’ll keep you posted on our progress. As Governor Perdue announced several weeks ago, we’ve already identified about $466 million in highway and bridge improvements to be funded through the economic recovery plan, with more projects to come in all modes of transportation. These projects will not only help strengthen our infrastructure, but they will also create jobs and generate economic development. Please visit NCDOT’s Web site www.ncdot.gov or www.ncrecovery.gov to find out more about how we are putting this recovery money to work for North Carolina.