news-record.com

Gov. Bev Perdue said today she will seek discretionary grant money in the federal stimulus package to help replace the Yadkin River Bridge on Interstate 85 in Davidson and Rowan counties.

The project is estimated to cost about $300 million.

The stimulus included $1.5 billion in discretionary grants to be awarded to states for transportation projects. The grants will be awarded on a competitive basis and can range from $20 million to $300 million, with not more than 20 percent of the total money allocated to any one state.

"North Carolina must preserve the safety and mobility of important transportation links like the Yadkin River Bridge," Perdue stated in a news release. "The large price tag, which has made it hard to fund, makes it a perfect candidate for this additional stimulus grant money."

Any discretionary grant money received would supplement the $838 million the N.C. Department of Transportation is expected to receive through the economic recovery plan, including $735 million for highway and bridge projects and $103 million for projects in other modes, including aviation, bicycle and pedestrian, ferry and public transportation and rail.