$129 Million saved by NPS to fund 30 additional projects

$129 Million saved by NPS to fund 30 additional projects

Saturday, March 6, 2010

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The National Park Service (NPS) announced on Thursday that favorable pricing on large construction projects as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) has resulted in savings of over 20% - totaling approximately $129 million. The Service will use these dollars to fund an additional 30 high priority projects across the country putting additional people to work in ways that will leave a permanent legacy for our national parks through critical facility improvements, infrastructure repairs, and energy efficiency enhancements.

The list of newly funded construction projects as part of ARRA includes:

* Repaving the Smokemont Campground area and the Heintooga Ridge Road in the Smokies

* Resurface the Foothills Parkway East

The NPS is also announcing the replacement of 26 projects with 36 additional projects totaling $9.3 million. Projects are being replaced for various reasons, such as prior completion with non-ARRA funds or because they cannot be completed within the Recovery Act timeframe. The NPS selected the replacement projects from existing contingency lists using established merit-based criteria for expediency of implementation, job creation potential and ability to address high-priority mission needs.

The current list of the NPS ARRA projects can be found by clicking here.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided $3 billion to the Department of the Interior. Of that amount, $750 million went to the NPS to fund job-creating investments in critical infrastructure and facilities, trail restoration, abandoned mine remediation, and energy efficiency and renewable energy.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

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Shenandoah N.P. Announces Projects

Shenandoah N.P. Announces Projects

Friday, October 9, 2009

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Earlier this week, Shenandoah National Park officials announced plans that will begin Recovery Funded projects.

The press release stated that park officials have awarded the first contract to improve park facilities using part of the $30 million that Shenandoah received under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The contract estimated at almost $1 million to repave roads, parking areas, and trailheads was awarded to Firvida Construction Corporation out of Fairfax, Virginia.

Work is expected to begin in mid-October and should last until the end of November. Visitors should expect closures in work areas; however, the closures will last no more than one week and will not be in effect on weekends. The following areas are scheduled to receive work: the Lewis Mountain and South River Picnic Grounds roads; parking areas at Rapidan Road, Milam Gap, Hawksbill Gap, Upper Hawksbill Gap, Skyland Lodge Upper area, and Whiteoak Falls; and overlooks at Doyles River, Dundo, The Oaks and Hemlock Springs.

According to the park’s Superintendent, Martha Bogle, "These facility improvement projects will enhance the visitor’s experience here at Shenandoah for years to come. We recognize that Fall is a very popular time for people to visit the park because of all the colorful autumn leaves, so we are working to minimize the impact of closures by limiting work to weekdays only and ensuring that picnic areas, trailheads and overlooks will be open on the weekends."

Contracts for additional ARRA projects are slated to be awarded through the end of this year and into the beginning of 2010 for projects that will be undertaken next spring. These projects include re-paving and rehabilitation of areas along Skyline Drive, overlooks, and additional access roads throughout the park.


Jeff
Smoky Mountain Day Hikers Store Quality gear and apparel from some of the best outdoor brands.

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