by Therese Dunphy, Editor-in-Chief

Arizona

A four-year construction project to improve Interstate 17 north of Phoenix was nearing completion at Aggregates Manager press time. The Arizona Republic reports that $230 million has been spent to add 15 miles of new freeway, 14 new bridges, four new interchanges, and nearly 20 miles of carpool lanes. The project was handled by the Arizona Department of Transportation and the Maricopa Association of Governments, which jointly plan area freeway improvements. Much of the project is being built with money from Proposition 400, a regional sales tax voters approved in 2004. Federal and local dollars also financed the work.

Florida

The Interstate 4-Selmon Expressway Connector project near Ybor City could create 14,000 jobs and begin three years earlier than planned thanks to federal stimulus funds. According to The Tampa Tribune, the project is a multi-lane, mile-long elevated segment that could begin as soon as next year. The project’s launch was expected to be delayed until 2014 because of state revenue shortfalls, but the state devised a financing plan that uses $105 million in federal stimulus money. The project is expected to include up to $446.2 million in construction work. A construction contractor will be selected on Sept. 16.