Whether you are traveling to North Carolina’s sunny beaches or its majestic mountains this summer, you will probably notice a lot of orange barrels during your drive. That is because the N.C. Department of Transportation is doing more road construction this summer than in years past. In fact, you can expect to encounter a work zone on every interstate in the state.
Although that may not sound like a good thing to motorists anxious to reach their vacation destinations, it is. Each of those barrels is a symbol of progress for transportation in North Carolina during a tough economic time.
Despite budget constraints, the department is able to move forward with 25 interstate improvement projects over the next few months, thanks to funding from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act and Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicles, or GARVEE bonds. GARVEE bonds allow us to borrow against future federal funding, which helps us avoid delays and inflation.
These transportation improvements will reap big benefits for our state. They will enhance safety, help our roads last longer and get people where they need to go more efficiently, as well as create much-needed jobs throughout North Carolina.
I hope you will think about those benefits each time you pass an orange barrel this summer.