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RALEIGH, N.C. — The “help wanted” sign is officially up for phase two of the I-85 Corridor Improvement Project near the Yadkin River in Davidson County, N.C. The N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) began advertising the contract for the job on Monday, Aug. 2, which includes widening nearly four miles of I-85 and improving an interchange.

“This is an exciting step towards completing the state’s No. 1 mobility project,” said Transportation Secretary Gene Conti. “We’ve had to put this project on hold for years due to a lack of funding, but thanks to the Mobility Fund, we can now afford to move ahead with work that will reduce congestion, improve safety, and benefit the economy.”

With the state facing a severe budget hole and a growing list of crucial transportation projects, Gov. Bev Perdue proposed the creation of the state’s first Mobility Fund. Signed into law as part of the state’s budget, it will generate $173 million from fiscal year 2011 to fiscal year 2014 for transportation projects that meet statewide or regional needs. The funding comes from unused gap funds and reductions in the amount of money transferred from the Highway Trust Fund to the General Fund. Phase two of the I-85 Corridor Improvement Project is the first project to receive support from this new revenue source.

Project Details
The project is expected to cost $120-$130 million. It includes:
• reconstructing and widening 3.6 miles of I-85 from north of N.C. 150 to just north of I-85 Business; and
• reconstructing the interchange of I-85 at Belmont Road.

Design-Build Contract
NCDOT is advertising a design-build contract for the project. This unique method allows companies who use teams of designers and contractors to simultaneously design and construct a project to expedite its completion. The all-in-one approach helps the department avoid cost inflation and allows the contractor to make innovations that save taxpayer dollars.

Timeline
NCDOT expects to narrow down the number of teams vying for the contract in mid-September and open the bids in January 2011. It plans to award a contract by February 2011, with construction scheduled to begin by early summer of next year.

Phase One
Design work is currently underway on phase one of the I-85 Corridor Improvement Project. In April, the department awarded a $136 million contract to Flatiron-Lane, a joint venture of Flatiron Constructors, Inc. and The Lane Construction Corp. The project includes replacing several bridges over the Yadkin River and widening about three miles of I-85 in Davidson and Rowan counties. Construction is expected to begin by October.

For more information on the bidding process for phase two, visit the NCDOT Design-Build website.