Delaware Marks The Start Of American Recovery & Reinvestment Act Projects

Dover -- Traffic signal improvements mark the start of the first Delaware projects to be funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Governor Jack Markell, Transportation Secretary Carolann Wicks, Senator Tom Carper, and a representative of Senator Kaufman's Office were on hand for the occasion.

DelDOT has moved quickly to get people working by starting on several traffic signal improvements throughout the state. Overall, the various traffic signal improvement projects are valued at $1.5 million. These projects will improve traffic flow, vehicle safety, pedestrian safety, and the reliability of the system. Each intersection project has a different scope of work, variously involving new signal installations, reconstruction of aging infrastructure, pedestrian signal enhancements, upgrade of curb ramps to current ADA standards, modification of left-turn phasing, and lengthening of left-turn lanes.

In addition, DelDOT is gearing up for more construction to begin soon for the ARRA projects. Specifically, three projects are underway, ten projects have been put out to bid, and more are scheduled.

Said Governor Jack Markell, "The only way we are going to solve the historic challenges facing Delaware in the long term is by growing the economy. These projects will help get our economy and our neighbors moving again, and will create hundreds of much-needed jobs to help get Delawareans back to work."

DelDOT Secretary Carolann Wicks said, "We worked hard to get to this point, looking at numerous projects, making sure they met a variety of rules and regulations. The traffic improvement projects were among the easiest to start and will provide economic stimulus while enhancing the safety of our transportation system. President Obama signed the ARRA on February 17, and we were able to produce before the end of April."

Delaware's U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Ted Kaufman said the transportation projects will meet a variety of transportation needs while creating and sustaining jobs. Both Senators voted for the ARRA, knowing it would help Delaware in everything from schools to healthcare to transportation infrastructure. The Senators said the transportation projects identified are creating and sustaining jobs, and that Delaware Governor Jack Markell and Secretary Carolann Wicks are to be commended for finding projects that support a wide range of transportation needs including road construction, congestion relief, economic development, public transportation and bicycle and pedestrian paths.

The Delaware projects approved for ARRA funding range from big-ticket items such as high-speed E-ZPass lanes to safety projects such as traffic signal projects. The Traffic Signal Improvement Project consists of nine locations throughout the state, with two locations currently under construction. Highway safety improvements are underway at the intersection of Kirkwood Highway and Albertson Boulevard in New Castle County. In Sussex County, the intersection of SR 1 and West Way Drive will focus on pedestrian safety, to include current pedestrian signal upgrades to new countdown signals. In addition to these locations, the following are scheduled for New Castle County: U.S. 13 & Boulden Boulevard; U.S. 13 & Memorial Drive; U.S. 202 & Righter Parkway; and Mill Creek Road & McKennans Church Road. In Kent County: U.S. 13 & Lepore Road; U.S. 13 & SR 42; and the Frederica Fire Signal.

Details on all the proposed projects can be found on DelDOT's Web site at www.deldot.gov, under the "Recovery Projects" tab. Governor Markell is committed to keeping the public as up to date as possible regarding project progress, how funding is being spent, the number of jobs generated and the contractors who win the bids. The DelDOT Web site, www.deldot.gov, and the state Web site, www.recovery.delaware.gov will continue to be the focal point for this and more information.