Photo courtesy of CDOT
As part of the groundbreaking ceremony last week, Gov. Ritter unveiled the highway signs that will mark each ARRA project.

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter joined representatives last week from the Federal Highway Administration, the Colorado Department of Transportation, the city of Littleton and other state and local officials to mark the start of Colorado’s first highway project funded through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009.

“The Recovery Act has already begun helping Colorado’s economy by preventing cuts in school budgets, giving working families tax breaks and increasing aid to the unemployed,” said Ritter. “But now, we will also be able to see physical work on our much-needed roadway infrastructure. I am proud that Colorado has begun putting the recovery act dollars to work. As more of these projects get under way, thousands of people will be put back to work, improving our economy and strengthening our communities.”

The $1.2-million project will rotomill and resurface approximately one mile of Belleview Avenue between Federal Boulevard and Santa Fe Drive in asphalt and will replace concrete curb and gutter.  The segment of roadway is currently in poor condition and in great need of a new driving surface.

The 30-day project will employ approximately 30 private-sector workers in the construction industry, allowing Aggregate Industries of Golden, the contractor for the project, and its subcontractors to save jobs.

Two more Recovery Act projects also started last week. Work began Tuesday afternoon to resurface a 21-mile section of State Highway 62 between Telluride and Ridgway in Ouray County. APC Southern Construction Co. of Penrose, Colo., was contracted for the $11.7-million project, which consists of milling, roadway resurfacing and shoulder work on S.H. 62.

“I am very excited to see this work begin. This is great news for the region,” said Congressman John Salazar (D). “The American Recovery Act was intended to improve America’s infrastructure and keep American jobs. This is a project that accomplishes both of those goals.”

And Tuesday night, CDOT began another project on Interstate 70 to repair or replace three miles of old concrete between Kipling Street and Wadsworth Boulevard in Jefferson County. By repairing and replacing concrete slabs, CDOT is conducting a pavement preservation project, designed to increase the life of the roadway by making repairs before it deteriorates. This segment of I-70 carries approximately 127,000 vehicles a day, according to CDOT traffic counts.

“I am proud one of the first transportation stimulus package projects to begin is in the Seventh Congressional District. Not only will this project improve a heavily used section of I-70 but will create and save jobs for New Design Construction, a company in my district,” said U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D).

At the groundbreaking for the resurfacing project on Belleview Avenue, Gov. Ritter unveiled the ARRA highway sign designed to mark each recovery act project. Because these projects are unique from typical federally funded projects, FHWA provided guidelines for design layout and color and strongly encouraged states to post these signs on all projects funded by the ARRA.

“Americans 50 to 100 years from now will look at these signs and be reminded of the fact that when faced with crisis, we acted—not only to create jobs and hasten our recovery, but also to lay the foundation for long-term growth and lasting prosperity,” said U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.).

U.S. Senator Mark Udall (D-Colo.) added, “These signs are a reminder to all of us that investments from the economic recovery plan are being put to good use and helping to create jobs in Colorado.”

To date, CDOT has committed funds for 32 projects across the state. Among those, 27 projects have been advertised for bids and CDOT has selected contractors for 20 projects. To see a list of projects, go to www.dot.state.co.us/arra.

In all, Colorado will receive more than $400 million for transportation projects and $103 million for transit projects. For more information about how Colorado is putting the recovery act to work, visit www.colorado.gov/recovery.

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