$86.5 Million Transportation Plan Back on Track

Eighty-four preservation projects totaling $86.5 million that were suspended in March due to budget cuts are back on track thanks to passage of the comprehensive transportation program T-WORKS.

The $8.2 billion program was recently passed by the 2010 Kansas Legislature. One major T-WORKS component was highway preservation where $4.6 billion will go toward ensuring every mile of Kansas highway will receive preservation work during the 10-year program.

“I couldn’t be more pleased that we are able to get our preservation program back on track,” said Secretary of Transportation Deb Miller. “At the beginning of the year we had planned to do 1,600 miles of preservation work, but that number was reduced to 700 because of budget cuts. Now we will be able to address those important needs.”

KDOT has rescheduled 70 of the suspended projects in its June bid letting. Bids will be accepted on 10 more of the projects before the end of the calendar year and the remaining four will be let in 2011.

Before passage of T-WORKS, the agency had seen $257 million cut from its 2010 budget. The result was much smaller bid lettings, such as in April when there were only nine projects.

“The construction industry has been suffering because of the recession,” said Miller. “T-WORKS will help boost the economy by creating thousands of jobs for both contractors and suppliers.”

Preservation work helps protect KDOT’s investment in the State Highway System with such projects as overlays, sealing, pavement patching, crack repair and bridge repairs.

A complete list of the rescheduled projects can be viewed on KDOT’s web site at www.ksdot.org under Recent News Releases.