First state construction stimulus project lands in Bay Area

First state construction stimulus project lands in Bay Area
San Francisco Business Times - by Eric Young
Friday, May 8, 2009

California’s first construction groundbreaking funded by the federal stimulus act is in the Bay Area.

The work, along Interstate 80 in Fairfield between State Route 12 and Air Base Parkway, will create more than 200 jobs, said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The job involves repaving a 50-year-old section of Interstate 80 used by nearly 200,000 drivers daily.

Funded fully by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the job is being overseen by a Bay Area company. Top Grade Construction of Livermore was the lowest bid submitted at nearly 40 percent below the California Department of Transportation’s cost estimate. The job is expected to be completed by the end of this year and cost $13.5 million.

By the end of April, the Federal Highway Administration will have authorized the expenditure of nearly $850 million in federal economic stimulus funds to California for transportation projects, the governor said.

California officials estimate the state will receive nearly $2.6 billion from the stimulus act for highways and local streets and $1 billion for transit projects. Discretionary programs could add another $300 million and California expects to be very competitive in securing a portion of $8 billion set aside nationally for high-speed rail and intercity rail.

Email Eric Young at eyoung@bizjournals.com / (415) 288-4969