Transportation Projects

Central New York will receive funding in order to complete transportation projects that have been put on hold for years. The area will get at least $82 million in stimulus money which has been set aside to repair various bridge, highways and roads.

Gov. Paterson has estimated the road projects will bring 2,000 new jobs to the area. These jobs include construction workers, surveyors, trucker drivers and others related to construction.

The total cost of the projects will be close $220 million. The Department of Transportation chipping in $88 million and the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program funding $50 million.

Josh Ribakov, assistant regional director of the Central New York DOT office, said he was excited for the projects to begin, “We need to get these projects going as quick possible,” he said

“These projects help on two fronts. It helps create jobs in a failing economy while at the same time repairing transportation issues that have been problems for years,” Ribakov said.

“Some of these projects have been talked about for years.” Ricky Gervel, who is in charge of Construction at the CNY DOT office said.

“The stimulus money also helps to start projects that may have been put on hold for many more years” Gervel said.

Gervel also described the jobs as a “real boom to the CNY industry construction jobs” because “this sector has been hit hard by the recession and this will get many back to work.”

Construction is expected to begin soon and is projected to be finished by 2010. For more information visit https://www.nysdot.gov/regional-offices/region3/projects.