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Gov. Bev Perdue said Tuesday the state will build 70 highway and bridge projects with the first federal stimulus package money slated for North Carolina.

But none of the initial outlay will be used to help finance Greensboro’s 4.8-mile, $26 million Downtown Greenway.

Those planning the recreational loop around the center city had hoped to land $625,000 in stimulus money for the second section of the multiyear project.

“It is our understanding that the Downtown Greenway did not receive funding in this initial round of the stimulus package,” said Monty Hagler, a spokesman for the project. “We will continue to pursue federal and state monies to help move this project forward.”

Work will begin on the first section of the greenway Monday, using funds that have already been allocated.

A state transportation official said the money for the greenway could be coming in a later round of funding. The list Perdue released Tuesday included no money for trails or greenways anywhere in the state.

“The second wave is where they might start addressing some of these (other) requests,” said Mike Mills, chief engineer for
NCDOT Division 7, which includes Guilford and four other counties. “That’s probably where they will address these projects like trails, sidewalks and bus facilities.”

The governor’s list of projects, which she laid out during a series of announcements across the state, includes $36.6 million for four in Division 7. But funding for those had already been identified last week.

The federal package includes a total of $838 million for transportation projects across the state, leaving Perdue with $372 million to distribute in the later round of projects.

The four projects approved for Division 7 include $18.6 million to widen Mebane Street in Burlington to four lanes between Huffman Mill Road and Chapel Hill Road; $4 million for repaving Interstate 85 from Groometown Road to the I-85/Business 85 split; $10 million for a similar project on I-85 from Rock Creek Dairy Road in eastern Guilford to University Drive in Alamance County; and $4 million to redo a worn stretch of concrete pavement on U.S. 29 in southern Rockingham County.

Perdue’s stops included one at the rest area on the Guilford-Alamance line.

“Our overriding goal is to get North Carolina’s economy moving by funding transportation projects that will create jobs from the mountains to the coast,” Perdue said in a statement. “My administration is working closely with local communities to determine which projects can be ready most quickly to deliver the greatest benefit.”

The projects she announced Tuesday will create 14,000 jobs, Perdue said, adding that the next round of road and bridge projects should be released in early April.

A state Department of Transportation official said as much as $93 million in projects should be open for bidding next month and that others will follow.

The Associated Press contributed to this story. 

Contact Donald W. Patterson at 373-7027 or don.patterson@news-record.com

Contact Taft Wireback at 373-7100 or taft.wireback@news-record.com