Washington, D.C.--The three Congressional members of the Rockland/Westchester delegation announced that more than $40 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) have been approved for projects in the two counties.

Reps. Eliot Engel, Nita Lowey and John Hall said the five projects approved by New York State include bridgework in Rockland, traffic sensors for Westchester and pavement resurfacing and bridge maintenance for both counties.

Rep. Engel said, “This is the kind of rapid action that President Obama and the Congress had in mind when we passed and he signed ARRA. This will get people working, rebuild our infrastructure, while also helping our economy to recover.”

Rep. Lowey said, “These investments in New York’s transportation infrastructure will create jobs and make our region an even greater place to live, work, and do business. I was pleased to have advocated successfully for transportation investments in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and to have helped pass this critical stimulus into law. It is good news for our communities that these projects will move forward, easing travel for commuters in Westchester and Rockland Counties.”

Rep. Hall said, “The Recovery funding is flowing to shovel-ready projects that will create jobs and infuse millions of dollars into Westchester and Rockland Counties economy. The swift delivery of funds for these projects shows how by working together we can bring much needed support to our local communities.”

The projects approved include the replacement of the Palisades Parkway Bridge over Route 202 in Rockland at a cost of $15,186,000, with a startup date scheduled for April 9.

Also approved is a traffic sensor program on Westchester County Parkways for $3,656,000; rehabilitation work on bridges throughout both counties at a cost of $13,395,000; pavement resurfacing in both counties at a cost of $8,138,000 including $5,881,000 in federal stimulus funds; and the replacement of the Odell Avenue railroad bridge for $2,821,000, which includes $2,810,000 in recovery funds.

Work is scheduled to be underway on all the projects in April.