ALBANY - Governor David Paterson Friday announced he has certified an additional $6.1 million for transportation projects in the Hudson Valley through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). This funding will go toward highway and road repair, bridgework and other long-term improvements to the region’s infrastructure and will create an estimated 146 jobs.

The most recent $6.1 million certification brings to $83.5 million the total in ARRA funding so far obligated to the Hudson Valley region.

The new projects include:

• $2.8 million of ARRA funding for a $6.6 million project to provide much-needed general maintenance of four bridges carrying Interstate 84 in the Town of Newburgh, Orange County. The work will extend the service life of the structures and is expected to be completed by the end of 2009.
• $1.1 million of ARRA funding for a project to replace guide rail at select locations in Westchester County. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2009.
• $2.2 million of ARRA funding for a project to repave approximately four miles of Route 28 between Route 212 and Route 214 in the Town of Shandaken, Ulster County. The top layer of worn, deteriorated pavement will be removed and replaced with new asphalt and fresh pavement markings to extend the service life of pavement. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2009.

New York is expected to receive approximately $26.7 billion in ARRA funding over two years, which the White House estimates will create or retain 215,000 jobs.