The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) has completed its first American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) project, the resurfacing of nearly two miles of Route 44 (Putnam Pike) in Gloucester. The project limits are from the RIDOT Maintenance Facility to Route 102, Tourtellotte Hill Road.
This $1.2 million project started on June 17, 2009 and wrapped up this Monday, September 14. The low bid came in under the engineer’s estimate of $1.6 million. T. Miozzi Inc. of North Kingstown, Rhode Island was the contractor.
The project consisted of cold planning and resurfacing as well as the removal and replacement of bituminous berm, steel beam guardrail, and signs. Catch basins were cleaned and pipes were flushed. In addition, there was reconstruction of drainage structures, replacement of drainage pipe, erosion control, and the placement of permanent epoxy resin pavement markings.
“ARRA funding has given Rhode Island the opportunity to do over 50 more construction projects than we would otherwise have been able to fund,” said Michael P. Lewis, RIDOT Director. “Overall Rhode Island received $138 million and the entire program is expected to create 1,500 direct jobs and 3,500 indirect jobs.”
The Route 44 resurfacing project employed 71 people over the course of the project.