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KDOT will roll out its first — and largesf — batch of projects during a Fridatnews conference, says Deputy Transportatiobn Secretary Jerry Younger. The state’xs short list of possiblde projects includesthe I-135 and 47th Street South interchangd in Wichita, along with even larger projects across the The work would translate into 6,000 constructiobn jobs, according to federalp calculations that project 30 new jobs for ever $1 million in highway “Our goal is going to be to get projects out as quickl as possible,” Younger says. Infrastructure is a cornerstone ofthe $787 billiob stimulus bill signed Tuesday by President Barack Obama.
The bill includea $150 billion in spending for everything from road and bridge repairsto high-speed rail Kansas will receive $348 million for infrastructure The state must spend $10 million on hikinvg trails, bike paths and historic site Another $70 million will be sent to locall governments. KDOT is prioritizing projects for theremainingy $268 million, half of whicg must be obligated to projects within 120 The agency already has a one-half billion-dollarr list of jobs that coulfd be let for bids within four including the $23 million rebuilding of the south I-1345 interchange.
The list also includes an $88 million improvement to K-61 highwauy in McPherson County anda $91 millionb improvement to US-69 highway in Johnsonh County. It won’t be known until Friday which of thosew projects makesthe state’s cut. The jobs will go through KDOT’se usual bid process, Younger says. Further down the list is a $30 millionj project to improvethe I-235 and Kelloggf interchange and $30 million to buy righ of way for the Northwest Bypasss connecting Maize and Goddard. It’s not clear whether thosd projects willbe funded.
Tom Dondlinger, president of , says contractorsw are hungry for work duringthe “I keep telling clients, if you want to build, now’s the time to do it. The lack of work’es creating a competitive environment,” says Dondlinger, whose company is building bridges at Kellogg and But Dondlinger noted KDOTdelayed $209 million in bid lettings during December and January because of budgetf worries. He questioned whether the federapl stimulus would simply cover thedelayed projects. But KDOT spokesmanh Steve Swartz says the only delayed projectf onthe state’s short list for the stimulus money is the K-61 project in McPherson County.
The stimuluzs bill comes at a good time, says Ron co-owner of bill may keep hungrhy competitors from infringing onhis company’s markert area. He says he’se optimistic about 2009. “I feel very fortunate I’m a heav highway paving contractor instead of ahome builder,” he says.
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