Counties receive money to fund highway work
By Staff Reports
Published in News on December 7, 2009 1:46 PM
Duplin and Sampson counties will share in an $8.4 million transportation project to aid in the state's economic recovery, said state Rep. Larry Bell of Clinton.
The money will be spent to pay for widening and resurfacing nine miles of N.C. 411 north of N.C. 41 to N.C. 903; resurfacing 0.4 miles of N.C. 403 from Spencer Road (State Road 1734) to the U.S. 117 Connector in Sampson County; and resurfacing and shoulder reconstruction of four sections of the U.S. 117 Connector covering 42.7 miles, including 11.3 miles in Duplin County between the Sampson and Wayne county lines; 25.2 miles from Teachey to the Faison city limits in Duplin County; 2.8 miles from N.C. 403 in Sampson County to Duplin County line; 3.4 miles of N.C. 111 from Bryan Road (State Road 1800) to 0.1 miles south of N.C. 41 in Duplin County.
The $8.4 million contract was awarded to Barnhill Contracting Co. of Tarboro. The project is scheduled to begin as early as Jan. 4, 2010, and is scheduled to be finished by Nov. 12, 2010.
"This money will be well-spent to generate new jobs and better roads," Bell said. "This investment will help with some of the economic struggles that face North Carolina."
"We need better roads and we need good jobs. This investment helps with both," Rep. Tucker said. "It will be money well-spent.
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.
Bell is in his fifth term representing Sampson and Wayne counties in the House of Representatives. He is chair of the House Committee on Education and vice chair of the House Appropriations Subcommit-tee on Education.
For more information about funding for infrastructure improvements in North Carolina, as well as other DOT projects and activities, visit www.ncdot.gov.