Work on improvements to N.C. 24-27 near Robbins will begin later this month as the second of two highway projects funded by federal stimulus money.

State Rep. Jamie Boles announced last week that Transportation Secretary Gene Conti has awarded the $2.8 million contract to Riley Paving Inc. of Carthage.

The contract calls for the widening, resurfacing and installation of guardrail on 9.4 miles of N.C. 24-27 from N.C. 705 near Robbins to the Montgomery County line.

Funding comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) reports that the federal economic recovery funds will be used because traffic has increased significantly along this portion of the highway in recent years. NCDOT statistics show that 4,600 vehicles daily travel this stretch of road.

Under the contract, the highway is to be widened two feet on each side, and turn lanes will be added at major intersections. Work is to begin as early as July 27 and is to be completed by June 25, 2010.

Because of economic conditions, NCDOT does not currently have money available to fund this project and says that use of recovery dollars will enable the department to pay for it now and avoid costly delays.

The pavement on this segment of N.C. 24-27 is described as "aging, bumpy concrete."

The department says that resurfacing with new asphalt will help the pavement to last longer and provide a better drive between Moore and Montgomery counties.

The Federal Highway Administration estimates that every $1 million spent on transportation creates 30 jobs, and according to the construction industry, every dollar invested in transportation generates $6 in economic impact.

In late June, NCDOT announced that a $1.2 million contract had been awarded for improvements to U.S. 1 in southern Moore County.

It was the first major project using federal stimulus funding in Moore County.

Conti said the N.C. 24-27 contract is one of five projects for which the low bidder had to demonstrate that it met "good-faith effort" requirements in attempting to reach the disadvantaged business enterprise goals included in the contract.

Of 31 contracts awarded across the state since mid-June, 11 are funded through the federal recovery act.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at 693-2479 or by e-mail at florence@thepilot.com.