U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood featured a pair of guests from Dallas-headquartered Austin Bridge & Road at a May 21 National Press Club lunch event aimed at highlighting success stories of the economic stimulus law. LaHood was joined by Jim Andoga, chief executive officer of Austin Bridge & Road and 2009 president of the Contractors Division of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), andWillie Fort, a structures foreman at Austin Bridge & Road.
LaHood focused his remarks on implementation of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA), saying: “When it comes to rolling out money [for highway projects], we’re actually ahead of schedule . . . Every new project we announce is an immediate signal for states to advertise contracts and for contractors to begin hiring workers and ordering materials like steel and asphalt.”
Fort, an employee of Austin Bridge & Road based in Mississippi, was in danger of being laid off until the company won a $31 million ARRA-funded highway project along I-49 in Louisiana. The company retained and promoted him to work on that job.
“I’m glad the stimulus money came for this project because otherwise I might have been laid off,” Fort said. “I wasn’t sure where the next job was coming from. I’m very fortunate to get this job because now I can buy a house.” Fort, a 12-year construction veteran, plans to travel home to Mississippi every two weeks to spend time with his wife and four children.
ARRA, signed into law by President Obama last February, provided $48.1 billion for federal surface transportation investment. A May 21 report by ARTBA Vice President of Economics & Research Dr. Bill Buechner found that state and local transportation agencies have obligated $11.8 billion in highway funds for eligible projects. The amount represents almost 44% of the $26.8 billion of ARRA highway funds apportioned or allocated to date.
Austin Bridge & Road, a subsidiary of Austin Industries, provides pre-construction services, design-build, construction management and general contracting services in the heavy highway industry. Landmark projects completed by the company include the DFW International Airport spine road and bridges, and Texas’ longest bridge, which connects South Padre Island to the mainland across 2 miles of coastal water.
