PennDOT is working hard in anticipation of a significant highway construction component in the federal government’s emerging economic stimulus package, which is expected to be introduced in Congress early next year.

In a meeting with PennDOT, Associated Pennsylvania Constructors officers were told that the department is considering scenarios and developing lists of projects “ready to go” based on a range of potential funding.

The size of the highway package is not yet clear. While PennDOT will not release a project list until the amount is known, the department’s priorities are bridges, paving, safety improvements and capacity enhancement, in that order. PennDOT has indicated it is looking at an additional 319 projects worth about $1.03 billion that could move between January and August 2009.

“For the stimulus initiative to work, it’s essential to get these projects moving for the 2009 construction season,” said APC Executive Vice President Bob Latham. “It is reassuring to know that PennDOT is already preparing. The industry is meeting with elected officials to inform them that a highway stimulus will put people currently laid off in the construction sector back to work immediately. Also, contractors have the asset capacity to increase the size of the bridge and highway repair program in the Commonwealth.

“It’s also important to keep a focus on the bigger picture. Even a sizeable stimulus package will not cure the problems with our aging and congested highway system. We need to develop a vision for where we need our transportation system to be in 10 years, and strive to make that vision a reality.”