Low bids let DOT stretch dollars

PROVIDENCE – The R.I. Department of Transportation announced last week that thanks to projects coming in under their anticipated costs, it will be able to add an additional eight projects paid for with federal stimulus money.
The total amount of stimulus money, $137 million, will remain the same, but the eight new projects will bump the total projects paid for with the money to 62. Thus far, the state has received authorization to proceed with 52, and construction is under way at 44 sites.
The projects, which have been certified by the governor’s office, involve bridge rehabilitation, resurfacing, sidewalk reconstruction and drainage improvements. The estimated cost of these projects is $12.4 million. The DOT said it plans to start construction on them in the spring and summer.
“With bids coming in lower than our estimates, it became clear through the course of last year that the department would be able to expand the number of projects funded by the ARRA program,” DOT Director Michael P. Lewis said. “We are pleased to be able to stretch our stimulus dollars further.”
The DOT said the bids for its initial planned projects came in an average of 15 percent lower than expected.
The eight additional projects include:
• The resurfacing of 1.4 miles of Moosup Valley Road in Foster for $800,000.
• The resurfacing of 1.2 miles of Route 14/Route 102 from Briggs Road to Old Plainfield Pike in Foster for $800,000.
• The replacement of the Chestnut Hill Road Bridge in Glocester, which carries Chestnut Hill Road over the spillway that flows from the Sayles and Smith Reservoir to the Chepachet River ($1.5 million).
• Various drainage improvements in the following communities: East Greenwich (First Avenue at Division Street), Providence (North Main Street), Scituate (Danielson Pike), and Tiverton (East Road and Crandall Road) ($300,000).
• Installation of new curbing, sidewalks, minor drainage improvements and street tree preservation and replacement on Main Street (Route 114) in Warren for $700,000.
• Resurfacing of 3.8 miles of Route 91 in Westerly as well as the installation of curbing, sidewalks and guardrail for $3 million.
• Resurfacing, curb replacement and new signs and guardrails of Route 99 in Woonsocket, Cumberland and Lincoln for $5 million.
• The repairing of the roof on the West Kingston Train station in South Kingstown.