Friday, February 16, 2007
Companies to maintain highways
A Tennessee company will handle potholes, mowing and guardrail repair for Interstate 581.
The latest from The Ticker blog
Carrying out a General Assembly mandate, state highway officials handed off maintenance of more interstate highways to private contractors on Thursday.
A Tennessee company will handle potholes, mowing, snow removal, litter pickup and guardrail repair in the Salem region for Interstates 81 and 581. Part of U.S. 460 and U.S. 220 are included in the contract.
A Norfolk company will handle maintenance tasks for Interstate 77 and I-81 in the Bristol region, where a private contractor already has taken care of those roads for almost 10 years.
Statewide, four contracts were accepted by the Commonwealth Transportation Board on Thursday to let private companies maintain 562 miles of interstate and major primary highways.
TME Enterprises of Norfolk won a $43 million contract to maintain 149 miles of I-81 and I-77 in the Bristol area.
The Infrastructure Corporation of America of Brentwood, Tenn., received a $28.6 million contract to maintain 105 miles in the Salem area, including I-81, I-581, and parts of U.S 220 and U.S. 460.
Virginia Maintenance Services of Richmond was awarded two separate contracts, for $55 million and $30.7 million, to maintain 308 miles of interstate highways north and south of Richmond.
VMS previously handled maintenance on I-81 and I-77 in the Bristol area, along with some interstate highways near Richmond and Petersburg.
The Virginia Department of Transportation is still responsible for repaving and bridge repairs.
