One I-84 Sign Coming From Stimulus Program

Newtown is among 20 locations around the state sanctioned to receive a small piece of federal infrastructure stimulus.

Governor M. Jodi Rell announced March 13 that the panel she created to disburse federal stimulus funding released $5.6 million to repair or replace overhead roadway sign supports including the I-84 westbound signage a half mile before Exit 11 in Sandy Hook.

The sign work will begin during the upcoming construction season under contracts administered by the state Department of Transportation. The project is among $200 million in transportation improvements the Connecticut Recovery Working Group approved March 9.

“The stimulus projects we are approving are designed to keep people employed and get job-seekers back to work,” Gov Rell said. “The locations where we will be upgrading highway signs are scattered across the state and should help do exactly that.”

Under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), Connecticut is in line to receive $302 million for highway infrastructure projects and, of that, approximately 30 percent must go to local and regional projects.

Overall, Connecticut will receive about $3 billion in federal stimulus dollars. Approximately $1.65 billion is in direct aid and grants while $1.3 billion is in the form of Medicaid assistance. The federal government estimates the ARRA will create and/or save more than 40,000 jobs in Connecticut.