Roll out the orange barrels. On Tuesday, Pennsylvania's Secretary Bradley L. Mallory announced that a record amount of highway and bridge contracts -- totaling $1.5 billion -- were awarded during 2001.
"While pundits may joke about Pennsylvania roadways sprouting a forest of orange barrels, the fact is Gov. Mark Schweiker, former Gov. Tom Ridge and the Pennsylvania Legislature teamed up to invest more than $14 billion in the Commonwealth's transportation system since 1995," Secretary Mallory said, neglecting to mention the most important members of the team -- truckers.
The governor and lawmakers may have done the investing, but truckers who run Pennsylvania know the dollars came from the pockets of those paying the state's fuel taxes (the highest in the nation) and pricey license fees (annual registration per truck is $1,750).
Rich Kirkpatrick, press secretary for PennDOT, adds that part of the money comes from TEA-21 federal funding.
Secretary Mallory said Pennsylvania's interstates have a median smoothness that exceeds the comparable national figure; the non-interstate system is seeing dramatic improvements in pavement quality; and projects for which people waited decades are either open, being built or in final design.
"Just within the past two months, such long-awaited projects as the Kittanning Bypass in Armstrong County and the Tunkhannock Bypass in Wyoming County have opened," Secretary Mallory said. "Look at the headlines in each region for the story. `Finally.' `Bypass Making A Difference.' Those are just two examples of the overwhelmingly favorable response we are seeing."
Secretary Mallory pointed out that 78 percent of the total construction program in 2001 was dedicated to system preservation.
"We are adhering to our `Maintenance First' philosophy," Secretary Mallory said. "We are easing congestion, enhancing quality of life and preserving and improving the highway system in place."
Mallory says the record investments translate into jobs for Pennsylvanians. According to a 1995 Federal Highway Administration economic analysis, each $100 million of highway investment generates 4,210 jobs. For every $1 invested in highways, the return totals $5.75, according to the contracting industry. The benefits include improved safety, lower vehicle operating costs and reduced travel delays.
"Our transportation investment is propelling Pennsylvania forward," Secretary Mallory said. "In an economic downturn such as we are seeing now, awarding billions of dollars in contracts to private industry is about the best thing you can do. And we're not done. We expect similar levels of investment in 2002."
Last year, projects totaled more than $1.5 billion compared to $760.4 million in 1995.
So, you know how much they are spending. Where and how much? Below is a list of selected highway and bridge contracts from around the state that went to bid in 2001.
Selected highway and bridge projects that went to bid in 2001.
ALLEGHENY
-- Fort Pitt Bridge and Tunnel, $80.5 million;
-- Boulevard of the Allies rehabilitation, $10.4 million;
-- Liberty Bridge rehabilitation, $2 million;
-- U.S. 22/30 Expressway rehabilitation, $14.5 million;
-- Cargo Interchange, $23.9 million;
-- Library Road resurfacing, $4.5 million;
ARMSTRONG
-- South Bend Bridge replacement, $2 million;
BEAVER
-- Freedom-Crider Road improvements, $8.2 million;
BEDFORD
- U.S. 30 improvements, Bedford to Everett, $25.2 million;
U.S. 30 improvements, Everett to Breezewood, $5.5 million;
BERKS
- Warren Street Extension-South construction, $45.7 million;
-- Lindberg Viaduct improvements, $5.1 million;
-- Tuckerton Road Bridge, $2 million;
BLAIR
-- Chestnut Avenue widening, $12.5 million;
-- Plank Road widening, $12.8 million;
BRADFORD
-- U.S. 6 resurfacing, west of Troy, $793,400;
BUCKS
-- New Falls Road bridge rehabilitation, $2 million;
BUTLER
-- Interstate 79-Turnpike "Cranberry Connector," $44.3 million;
CARBON
-- Route 248 restoration, $4.4 million;
CHESTER
-- U.S. 30 reconstruction, $14.7 million;
-- Business U.S. 30 reconstruction, $4.2 million;
CLARION
-- Interstate 80 concrete rehabilitation, $2.7 million;
CLEARFIELD
-- South Brady Street Bridge improvements, $12.7 million;
COLUMBIA
-- Route 42 resurfacing, $1.3 million;
-- Interstate 80 resurfacing, $1.9 million;
DAUPHIN
-- Interstate 81 reconstruction, $74.5 million;
-- U.S. 422/U.S. 322 rehabilitation, $8.2 million;
DELAWARE
-- U.S. 202 rehabilitation, $1.4 million;
ERIE
-- Interstate 90, repaving, $11 million;
-- Route 5 resurfacing, $2.2 million;
-- U.S. 20 restoration, $2 million;
-- Erie East Side Access construction, three sections, $53 million;
-- Bayfront Promenade, $1.4 million;
FAYETTE
-- Route 21 restoration, $3.5 million;
-- Route 21 bridge replacement, $335,240;
INDIANA
-- U.S. 22, Blairsville Interchange, $28.8 million;
JEFFERSON
-- U.S. 119 Punxsutawney South Climbing Lane, $4.8 million;
-- Sandy Lick Creek Bridge replacement, $1.4 million;
JUNIATA
-- U.S. 22 improvements, Thompsontown Area, $8.2 million;
LACKAWANNA
-- Exit 182 of Interstate 81 reconstruction, $20.4 million;
-- Interstate 81 repaving, $1.5 million;
-- Keyser Avenue at Morgan Highway reconstruction, $7.5 million;
LEHIGH
-- Improvements needed for Lucent Technologies new headquarters,
8.5 million;
-- Jordan Park, Route 145 widening, $4 million;
LUZERNE
-- Interstate 81 repaving, $1.8 million;
LYCOMING
-- Muncy River Bridge rehabilitation, $9 million;
-- U.S. 220 Picture Rocks Bridge over Muncy Creek, $3.1 million;
-- U.S. 15 resurfacing, Brady, Clinton townships, $1.3 million;
-- Basin Street/Via Bella improvements, Williamsport, $2.7 million;
-- Reach Road Overpass rehabilitation, $1.5 million;
MERCER
-- New lane on Route 18, two projects, $13 million;
MIFFLIN
-- Lewistown Bypass construction, $64.3 million;
MONTGOMERY
-- U.S. 202-U.S. 422 interchange improvements, $104.8 million;
-- Route 309 Expressway overhead bridge replacements, $14.3 million;
MONTOUR
-- U.S. 11 bridge replacement and resurfacing, $2.6 million;
-- Interstate 80 reconstruction east of Danville, $1 million;
NORTHAMPTON
-- Sandts Eddy Arch Bridge, $1.1 million;
-- Lafayette Street restoration, $1.1 million;
PHILADELPHIA
-- Interstate 95 improvements, $42.6 million;
PIKE
-- Route 2001, Milford Road improvements, $4.5 million;
POTTER
-- Route 449 improvements, $4.5 million;
SCHUYLKILL
-- Route 61, Deer Lake South improvements, $3.6 million;
SULLIVAN
-- U.S. 220 improvements on Sonestown Mountain, $1 million;
SUSQUEHANNA
-- U.S. 11, Great Bend Bridge, $6.5 million;
TIOGA
-- Mansfield Bypass construction, $18 million;
-- Route 287 resurfacing, $1.6 million;
-- Route 4041, Knoxville Truss rehabilitation, $1.5 million;
UNION
-- U.S. 15 improvements, Lewisburg Hourglass, $3 million;
WARREN
-- Route 6 restoration, $1.5 million;
WASHINGTON
-- U.S. 40/Route 3013 intersection improvements, $5.4 million;
-- Interstate 70 preventive maintenance, $6.5 million;
-- Interstate 70 preventive maintenance, $3.6 million;
WAYNE
-- Route 507, Newfoundland Bridge, $1.9 million;
WESTMORELAND
-- U.S. 30 Longbridge improvements, $3.2 million;
-- Locust Street viaduct, $2.8 million;
-- Route 286 restoration, $1.6 million;
WYOMING
-- U.S. 6 improvements, $3 million;
NEW YORK
-- U.S. 30, widening and reconstruction of western portion of the York
Bypass, $6.9 million; and
-- Interstate 83 rehabilitation, $8.8 million.
