Work to resurface 9.2 miles of I-26 in Polk County could begin as soon as April 1, according to N.C. Gov. Bev Perdue.
The governor announced Thursday that $138.3 million has been awarded for 43 highway and bridge projects in the state, including the $9.3 million I-26 project in Polk County.
The project involves resurfacing I-26 from mile marker 61.75 to the South Carolina line. Work could be completed by September 30, according to the state.
The Isothermal Rural Transportation Organization, which represents Polk, Rutherford and McDowell counties held an emergency meeting last January to apply for emergency stimulus funding, which included $10 million for the I-26 project.
The state announced last spring that the I-26 paving project would be funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation recently completed the bid approval process.
The I-26 paving project in Polk County was awarded to Moore & Son Site Contractors Inc. of Mills River.
The N.C. Department of Transportation awarded the contracts to the lowest bidders, as required by state law, with the exception of one project, which was awarded to the second lowest bidder due to a cap on small business earnings.
The bids received on all 45 projects advertised came in 11 percent, or about $18.4 million, below NCDOT estimates.
“These projects will make a difference to the lives of North Carolinians by creating or sustaining jobs vital to our economy and improving transportation infrastructure critical to commerce in our state,” Gov. Perdue said.
The 12 recovery projects are located in Dare, Duplin, Durham, Forsyth, Guilford, Orange, Pender, Polk, Stokes, Tyrrell, Vance, Wake and Warren counties.
The 31 other projects are located in Alamance, Anson, Ashe, Buncombe, Chowan, Cumberland, Davidson, Davie, Durham, Forsyth, Greene, Harnett, Henderson, Jackson, Lenoir, Madison, Mecklenburg, New Hanover, Orange, Pitt, Polk, Rockingham, Rowan, Stokes, Transylvania, Vance, Wake, Warren and Wilkes.