North Carolina Senators Thom Tillis and Richard Burr applauded the Department of Transportation (DOT) for awarding North Carolina three North Carolina Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) totaling more than $51 million after they advocated on behalf of local stakeholders.

 

Senators Tillis and Burr played a critical role in the grant process, including organizing and attending initial meetings with stakeholders and USDOT staff to enhance applications before they were submitted to discuss each project, attending pitch meetings with stakeholders and USDOT staff, and providing advice and counsel on USDOT priorities that stakeholders were able to highlight in their applications.

 

The three BUILD grants are:

 

$22,500,000 to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to widen 27 miles of I-95 to eight lanes between Lumberton and Fayetteville. This will make the area more resilient to major storms like Hurricanes Matthew and Florence by raising two bridges near Lumberton, and several low-lying parts of the road susceptible to flooding. It also includes state-of-the-art flood monitoring technology in order to manage evacuation routes in real time.

 

In addition, the grant will help raise two bridges near Lumberton, and several low-lying parts of the road susceptible to flooding. It also includes state-of-the-art flood monitoring technology in order to manage evacuation routes in real time.

 

$15,000,000 to the City of Greenville for a multimodal improvement project to enhance the city’s vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle infrastructure. The project will include roadway realignment and resurfacing, as well as the extension of an existing greenway space, construction of a multi-use path, and conversion of an abandoned rail.

 

$13,600,000 to the Town of Mooresville for the construction of a new 1.7-mile roadway from I-77 to NC-115/Mecklenburg Highway. The new road will better connect Mooresville to the Lowe’s Corporate Campus and the Department of Defense (DOD) Contractor Technologies.

 

“One of my top priorities is modernizing North Carolina’s infrastructure and working with our local communities throughout the federal grant process to make sure their applications are as strong as possible,” said Senator Thom Tillis. “I’m proud North Carolina will be awarded $51 million in BUILD grants, which will go a long way towards improving safety on our roads and reducing traffic congestion. I want to thank Secretary Chao and the Trump Administration for their support in improving North Carolina’s infrastructure.”

 

“North Carolina’s roadways are critical for economic growth,” said Senator Richard Burr. “Today’s announcement awards more than $50 million to the state through the highly competitive and selective BUILD Grant program. This funding will improve North Carolina’s infrastructure to ensure passenger safety and to better connect communities for years to come. I applaud the City of Greenville, the Town of Mooresville, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation for recognizing the benefits of building a strong infrastructure in their communities.”