(Image Source: Oklahoma DOT)
One of Kansas’s top road and bridge construction supply businesses continues to expand, beginning with Missouri and Oklahoma cities, counties, townships, government contractors, livestock feed yards and individuals with quality road and bridge construction supplies.
Since 1963, family-owned and operated, Welborn Sales, Inc., has been providing Kansas road and bridge construction contractors, municipalities, and end-users the very best in service. “We constantly explore ways to offer our customers an exceptional experience and that includes the ability to supply their needs in a timely and expedient manner.”, said Bob Garver, President.
STATE OF OKLAHOMA HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION IMPROVEMENTS
With more than 300 new projects added to the Eight-Year Construction Plan for 2022-2029 approved on Monday, Oct. 4, 2021 Oklahoma Department of Transportation will commit an additional nearly $2 billion into highway infrastructure and the state’s economy. This brings a total impact of nearly $8 billion by the end of the decade. Commissioners also approved a $484 million investment in preventative maintenance through the companion Asset Preservation Plan for 2022-2025. (Source: Oklahoma.gov)
The opportunities don't stop with highway and interstate construction improvements. Counties, cities and tribes in Oklahoma have lists miles long of projects they hope to fund with some of the more than $5 billion that has been unlocked for Oklahoma by the federal Infrastructure Bill.
The $1.2 trillion infrastructure package signed into law on Nov. 16, 2021, authorizes spending to fix crumbling roads and bridges, expand broadband, and fund clean energy, transit, and other public works over five years.
Native American and Alaskan tribes will receive $11 billion from the package, from which $3.5 billion will go to the Indian Health Service agency.
The state and municipalities will receive about $4.6 billion for roads and bridges, $520 million for water infrastructure projects, nearly $500 million for airport and public transportation and more than $100 million to improve internet access for the 1.12 million low-income Oklahomans.
STATE OF MISSOURI HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION IMPROVEMENTS
The state transportation system is a tremendous asset owned by the citizens of Missouri. A significant component of the state system is the 33,832 miles of roads and 10,397 bridges, both of which rank among the largest for any state in the nation. On average, Missouri drivers pay $30 per month in fuel taxes and fees to fund the maintenance and improvements to this asset. Over the last 10 years, Missourians have invested in 4,333 projects totaling $10.9 billion to maintain and improve the system. Looking forward, $5.5 billion is estimated to be available for projects over the next five years for additional improvements.
The projects in the 2022-2026 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) deliver what taxpayers have asked for – take care of the existing system. While $5.5 billion of available funding represents a significant investment, many regions will only have adequate funding to maintain current pavement and bridge conditions. While maintaining the status quo is not what Missourians desire, it is not prudent for the state to expand the transportation system in regions that struggle to take care of the existing system.
Missouri is set to receive $484.3 million from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to improve highway bridges. Like all funding to the states, Missouri's $484.3 million will be spread across five years. It will get $96.9 million for its first allocation.
Despite having the fifth most bridges in poor condition, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Missouri is receiving the 14th largest bridge allocation.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration's guidance to states, funding is allocated through a formula based on the relative cost of replacing and fixing highway bridges considered to be in poor or fair condition in the National Bridge Inventory. The formula, which is part of the legislation, was created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The federal government is giving away more than $27 billion to states and tribal transportation facilities, which would go toward improving conditions on an estimated 15,000 bridges.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, it's the single largest bridge investment the federal government has made since the construction of the interstate highway system, which began in the 1950s.
Missouri has 2,190 bridges in poor condition, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, and more than 12,715 bridges in fair condition.
The federal funds can be used to replace, rehabilitate, preserve, protect or build highway bridges in the state. (Source: https://www.modot.org/)
A TURNING POINT FOR GROWTH
"We know there is a lot of opportunity in Oklahoma and Missouri, explained Garver. "And we believe we can not only meet the expectations of both states, but exceed them. It's what we do. Our customer service expectations are the cornerstone of our business, we believe we can proudly say that our sales team is one of the best in the industry. The difference is that we truly believe that we can be a partner in our client’s projects, from providing our high level of expertise, to looking for ways to save valuable dollars without compromising the quality that you would expect. We’re very excited to be expanding our footprint into Missouri and Oklahoma. Our company has had huge success in Kansas and we believe that we can have similar success in the great states of Missouri and Oklahoma.”