(The following appeared on the Progressive Railroading website on March 16, 2010.)
On March 10, North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue announced the N.C. Department of Transportation awarded 30 contracts totaling $165.9 million for rail and highway projects, including eight funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The bids received on all 30 projects came in 10.5 percent, or about $19.5 million, below DOT estimates.
The rail projects include the replacement of two existing bridges over Norfolk Southern Railway lines in Statesville. The DOT awarded a $3 million contract to Dane Construction. Work is scheduled to begin by March’s end and conclude in September 2011.
In addition, 5.6 miles of track will be installed from a North Carolina Railroad Co. line to a Global TransPark industrial park near Kinston. The DOT awarded a $14.3 million contract to Hinkle Contracting Co. L.L.C. Construction is scheduled to begin by March’s end and conclude in November 2011.