By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
Local officials say they are optimistic a new Interstate 85 bridge over the Yadkin River could move to the top of the list for federal economic stimulus projects in North Carolina.
County commissioners, business leaders, legislators from Rowan and Davidson counties and other leaders along the I-85 corridor are scheduled to meet with Gov. Beverly Perdue at 10:30 this morning in the Old State Capitol Building.
County commissioners mailed a letter and package of information that was to land on Perdue’s desk Monday.
Rep. Lorene Coates, a Democrat from Salisbury, arranged the meeting with Perdue following a session with the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce’s legislative affairs committee last month.
Late Friday, Coates got word from Perdue’s office the meeting had been set for today.
Coates said she got a list Friday from the N.C. Department of Transportation that includes the I-85 bridge in the proposed stimulus funding package.
“We want to make sure the governor is on board. She’s been over it (the old bridge) a number of times as she visited Rowan County,” Coates said.
She pointed out the current bridge ó comprised of twin spans ó is rated among the worst in the state by the American Automobile Association. Built in 1955, the bridge has been deemed structurally and functionally obsolete.
Still, Coates, Republican Rep. Fred Steen of Landis and other local officials say they fear if the state’s equity formula for transportation projects is applied to the federal money, the bridge won’t be built.
Coates said the governor or the legislature can say the project doesn’t have to go through the equity formula.
She also emphasized that the group meeting with Perdue is not proposing a toll bridge.
“If Gov. Perdue will give us a bridge, we’re willing to name it the Beverly Perdue Bridge,” Coates said.
Not stopping with the governor, Coates has been in contact with the offices of U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, U.S. Rep. Mel Watt and U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell.
Coates said she has been assured that Watt is already working on getting the bridge included in the federal projects and that it is Kissell’s top priority.
Steen worked with Coates over the weekend to get key officials along the I-85 corridor invited to the meeting.
Steen praised Coates for “getting us in the door,” adding proponents of the project now have the opportunity to make their case.
“This bridge is not just in our backyard. It’s important to the region, the state and the entire East Coast,” Steen said. “It’s time to take advantage of this opportunity.”
He added the project should be ready for design and build since it has been delayed for three or four years.
Steen also noted Perdue’s reference to the N.C. Research Campus in Kannapolis in her inaugural address Saturday and that the bridge is “a major link in getting to the Research Campus
A majority of the Rowan County Board of Commissioners will attend today’s meeting. Chairman Carl Ford, Raymond Coltrain and Tina Hall are making the trip. Vice Chairman Jon Barber and Commissioner Chad Mitchell, both of whom are employed the Rowan-Salisbury Schools, have work commitments.
“Getting the meeting is very encouraging,” Ford said Monday. “If we see some results it will be very nice.”
Ford said county officials plan to emphasize the regional economic development importance of replacing the bridges.
Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254.