N.C. Department of Transportation Secretary Gene Conti awarded a contract to resurface 8.3 miles of roads in Lincoln and Gaston counties.
A $1.4 million contract was awarded to Blythe Construction Inc. of Charlotte. Work can begin as early as March 15 and be completed by Nov. 15.
The following roads in Lincoln County will be resurfaced:
2.5 miles of Buffalo Shoals Road in Boger City from N.C. 27 to Shuford Road;
2.5 miles of Shoal Road north of Cherryville from N.C. 182 to the Gaston County line; and
1.9 miles of Asbury Church Road in Boger City from N.C. 27 to Old Mill Road.
The following road in Gaston County will be resurfaced:
1.4 miles of Bud Black Road in Cherryville from N.C. 150 to the Lincoln County line.
Resurfacing these sections of roadway will extend the lifespan of the pavement, improve safety and provide a smoother ride for motorists.
This is one of 30 contracts totaling $82.6 million awarded by Conti for highway and bridge projects across North Carolina. NCDOT awarded the contracts to the lowest bidders, as required by state law. The bids received on the projects awarded came in about 8 percent, or about $7.2 million, below NCDOT estimates.
Since Gov. Bev Perdue took office in January of 2009, NCDOT has awarded 471 highway contracts totaling $3.6 billion to ensure that all North Carolinians have access to jobs and educational opportunities.
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.