Unexpectedly low bids from road builders have allowed the state of Utah to add nine projects to its list of recipients for federal stimulus dollars.
The Utah Transportation Commission on Tuesday shifted $13.3 million toward new projects. Savings in the state's regular highway program also allowed commissioners to move $9 million from work on State Route Highway 89 and a State Street railroad in Pleasant Grove.
That project came in 55 percent below previous estimates, allowing commissioners to give $7.6 million to work on Lehi's 2100 North connector from Interstate 15 to the planned Mountain View Highway and $1.4 million to a Geneva Road widening, also in Utah County.
Contractors were giving the state big breaks earlier in the year, and the last 30 bids averaged 28 percent cheaper than the state's expectations, said Jim McMinimee, project development director for the Utah Department of Transportation.
"We're still getting very good prices," McMinimee said. Although the department has begun to lower its expectations, bids on the last three projects still came in at least 15 percent below what was tentatively budgeted.
Commission Chairman Stuart Adams said those projects that came in 28 percent lower than expectations will save the state even more money when it offers bonds later this year to finance new projects.
"We get a lot better interest rate than 28 percent," he said.
UDOT's construction price index this year is 2 percent lower than last year's costs, McMinimee said. That compares with last year's 9.1 percent inflation rate for road construction.
Utah already has obligated 82 percent, or $171 million, of the economic stimulus dollars that Congress gave it for state road construction. Much of that money is dedicated to repaving and bridge repair projects, and most of the work should be complete by year's end.
The money redirected on Tuesday will pay for such projects at repaving Wall Avenue in Ogden, Foothill Boulevard from Sunnyside Avenue to 1300 East in Salt Lake City, and State Route 114 from Provo to Pleasant Grove.
» Wall Avenue, SR26 to 32nd Street: $3 million.
» Foothill Boulevard, Sunnyside to 1300 East: $2.8 million.
» SR114, Utah County: $3 million.
» Interstate 70, southwestern Sevier County: $700,000.
» SR143 and SR274 in Parowan: $2 million.
» State Street from 9000 South to 10600 South and 700 East over Dry Creek: $800,000.
» SR114 over Provo River: $200,000.
» Provo Canyon bridges on SR189: $400,000.
» SR154, median cable north of SR201: $400,000.
