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CUMMING, GA – The Georgia Department of Transportation announces construction is scheduled to begin on another highway project in Northeast Georgia funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

State Route (SR) 9 will be resurfaced from the Fulton county line to just north of SR 20 in Cumming. Work will occur at night from 8:30 p.m. overnight to 5:30 a.m. the next morning, as weather permits.  Flaggers will stop traffic and then pilot vehicles will lead motorists through the work zone. Work will occur Sunday through Thursdays. Work is not allowed on Friday or Saturday nights.

Crews will begin this work of this 9.8 mile long resurfacing project tomorrow night if weather permits. Work will begin near the intersection of SR 9 and SR 20.The estimated construction cost is $1.9 million. The completion date for the project is April 30, 2010 but work is expected to finish this calendar year.

C W Matthews Contracting, Inc of Marietta is the contractor.

Georgia DOT is responsible for 70 percent of Georgia’s $932 million in highway system ARRA funds.  The remaining 30 percent is divided among the state’s 15 Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and designated rural areas.  The MPOs, in conjunction with the Department, are funding projects from these respective allocations.  The state also received $144 million in stimulus funds for public transit and Georgia DOT has awarded related local grants totaling approximately $39 million.  Georgia is eligible for additional highway, rail and aviation grants from funds totaling $12.1 billion.

The ARRA is a national effort to create jobs and transform America’s economy to compete in the 21st century.  Nationwide, some $48 billion in stimulus investments are being made in transportation infrastructure, including highways, public transit, high speed rail and aviation.  Georgia DOT has created a Web page (www.dot.ga.gov/gastimulus) devoted to stimulus activities to provide specific program information and promote transparency of the process.

All selected ARRA stimulus projects are fully funded by the federal government; no state or local matching funds are required.

Georgia DOT costs estimates are projections of the possible total cost of a project to the Department.  Estimates are tentative and preliminary.  They include, but are not limited to, items such as contingencies, possible costs associated with utility conflicts, project inspections, testing and engineering.  These are potential costs to the Department, not to a project’s contractor; thus, they will not be reflected in contractor bids. 

The Georgia Department of Transportation is committed to providing a safe, seamless and sustainable transportation system that supports Georgia’s economy and is sensitive to both its citizens and its environment. Additional transportation revenues are imperative to grow and sustain Georgia's economic vitality and quality of life through the 21st Century.  Georgia is the 3rd fastest-growing state in the nation, yet 49th in per capita spending on transportation.  For general information on the Georgia DOT, please visit our Web site (www.dot.ga.gov).