BOSTON (AP) Work could begin soon on $30 million worth of Massachusetts highway projects that are eligible to use federal stimulus dollars.
The eight projects are scattered from the Berkshires to Cape Cod, according to Gov. Deval Patrick’s administration.
The projects focus on road resurfacing and traffic sign replacement in each of five regional districts.
Massachusetts has received $438 million for highway projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. About $153 million will be committed to highway projects to be advertised for bid.
Massachusetts Transportation Secretary James Aloisi said work on the projects will begin this spring.
Jeffrey Simon, tapped by Patrick to help decide which Massachusetts projects will receive stimulus funds, said the federal dollars will accelerate road and bridge maintenance projects.
The projects include resurfacing and sidewalk reconstruction on Route 116 in Adams, resurfacing along a section of Route 6 in Bourne and resurfacing Routes 18 and 28 in the Bridgewater and Middleborough area.
Other projects include:
• Resurfacing more than 3 mi. (4.8 km) of Route 2 in Gill, Erving, Orange, and Wendell;
• Resurfacing and replacing traffic signs on Route 128 in Lexington and Reading;
• Resurfacing more than 4 mi. (6.4 km) of Route 2 in Harvard and Littleton;
• Resurfacing Route 6 in Somerset and Rehoboth;
• Resurfacing more than 4 mi. of Route 6 in Westport.
The administration said it will decide how to use federal stimulus dollars based in part on a project’s ability to meet a 120-day “use-it-or-lose-it’’ deadline.
Federal officials also have announced an additional $319 million for Massachusetts public transit projects — $159.9 million of which must be committed to eligible projects within 180 days.
