MoDOT to begin accepting bids for road projects delayed by federal cuts

The Missouri Department of Transportation sent a special notice March 17 to contractors saying that Congress passed an extension of the Surface Transportation Act, or SAFETEA-LU, that will bring federal transportation funding levels back to $42 billion through Dec. 31, 2010.

The move corrects the national shortfall of $12 billion — or $243 million to Missouri — in federal funding for the reminder of the year, allowing MoDOT to proceed with bid openings for projects that had been postponed due to funding uncertainties.

The new schedule for these projects is as follows:
March 19: Bids go out (three weeks) for April 9 bid opening;
March 25: Bids go out (five weeks) for April 30 bid opening;
April 8: Bids go out (five weeks) for May 14 bid opening;
April 22: Bids go out (five weeks) for May 28 bid opening.

Plans for projects originally scheduled for the Feb. 26 letting were posted and will not be changed unless an addendum is issued.