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~°~`~'~. <br />•~.a...,~- . <br />STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA <br />DEPART`1V~NT OF TRANSPORTATION <br />BEVERLY EAVES PERDUE 1501 MAIL SERVICE CENTER, RALEIGH, N.C. 27699-1501 EUGE3dE A. Co1\'TI, JR. <br />GOVERNQR SECRETARY <br />. March 3, 2009 <br />Secretary I~ay LaHood <br />US Department of Transportation <br />1200 New Jersey Avenue SE <br />Washington, DC 20590 <br />Dear Secretary LaHood: <br />I am writing to inform you of the state of North Carolina's intention to seek $300 million <br />in funding from the new supplementary discretionary grant program for a national surface <br />transportation system included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act <br />(P.L. 111-5). North Carolina will use these funds to reroute and construct a new <br />Interstate bridge on I-8S. <br />-- This project consists of the widening to an eight-lane facility of I-SS from.North of Long <br />Ferry Road (Exit 8:1j in Rowan County to US 29-52-70/I-8S Business (Exit 87} in <br />- ~ Davidson County including the replacement of the Yadkin River Bridge. The four-lane <br />segment of I-8S, including the bridge over the Yadkin River, currently carries nearly <br />70,000 vehicles per day and is projected to increase to 112,000 by 2025. Trucks represent <br />roughly 24 percent of all traffic on this portion of I-85. The existing bridge over the <br />Yadkin River, built in 1955, has far exceeded its design lifespan and is currently <br />classified as structurally deficient and functionally obsolete. Completion of the project <br />will solve a critical safety and freight bottleneck on I-8S, the most heavily traveled and <br />most direct Interstate route between Atlanta, Georgia, and Richmond, Virginia. <br />This project meets the stated priorities for the new discretionary grant program, including <br />the priorities .that a contribution of federal funds is necessary to complete an overall <br />financing package and that the project can be completed within three years. In addition, <br />completion of the project is considered a crucial element for continued economic <br />development along this corridor in Davidson and Rowan. Counties, where unemployment <br />rates have increased significantly due to losses in traditional manufacturing jobs over the <br />past few years. Both counties qualify as econprnic development-areas under the federal <br />Public Health and Welfare Act. This project has the potential to create or sustain 900 <br />direct or indirect jobs. In addition, this project is of regional significance as I-8S connects <br />regional population and commerce centers on the east coast. <br />PHONE 919-733-2520 FAX 919-733-9150 <br />G-10 <br />