OLYMPIA -- Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced recent project delivery

results by the Washington State Department of Transportation. 

"The citizens of Washington State have put transportation investment high on

the priority list for state government," Gov. Gregoire said.  "The results

of the recent election show that people support projects that will make our

transportation system safer and more efficient. Our job is to get the

projects done on time and within budget."

Earlier this year WSDOT announced completion of 13 projects approved by the

Legislature in the 2003 Nickel Package. Today's announcement added seven

more projects completed in July, August and September.  All of the newly

completed projects were finished on time and the total cost of the

construction work - almost $100 million - was within one-half of one percent

of the planned construction cost.

Gov. Gregoire also announced completion of the first of the high priority

safety projects funded by 2005 Transportation Partnership funds.  While the

majority of this project package was put on hold pending the vote on

initiative 912, Gregoire directed that a limited set of critical safety

projects be started.  These are the projects that have now been completed. 

The governor further announced today that she will require WSDOT to produce

regular, ongoing progress reports on Nickel package and 2005 Transportation

Partnership projects.  This report now lists 28 projects in every corner of

the state with a total construction cost of more than $670 million.  WSDOT

reports that construction started on time or ahead of schedule in 20 of the

projects.  The start of construction was delayed three to 22 months in the

case of eight projects for reasons ranging from right of way obstacles to

awaiting the coordination of a locally funded project.

"We are pleased to achieve this level of progress for taxpayers," Gov.

Gregoire said.  "This is also the fitting moment for me to announce that,

following the Legislature's decision last spring to make WSDOT a regular

cabinet agency with the Secretary of Transportation reporting directly to

the Governor, I will be submitting Doug MacDonald's name for confirmation by

the Senate as my own permanent appointment as Secretary.  Doug and his staff

at the department have been doing a good job and our entire team is looking

forward to addressing the transportation challenges ahead.  Most important

is to deliver high-quality, cost-effective projects that meet our citizens'

expectations while ensuring that every dollar of taxpayer money is well

spent."