Seven road projects totaling about $57 million for highway improvements were awarded for six Triangle-area counties on Thursday.

The North Carolina Board of Transportation funded a $35.5 million contract to widen N.C. Highway 54 in Durham County, as well as Davis Drive in Wake and Durham counties. The project is expected to begin as early as February, with completion slated for November 2009.

The board also approved the following projects:

- A $6.1 million contract to resurface more than 67 miles of highway in Franklin, Vance and Warren counties
- A $3.1 million contract to resurface an additional 29 miles of highway in Franklin County
- A $1.9 million contract to resurface nearly 18 miles of highway in Person County
- A $1.6 million contract to resurface an six sections of secondary roads totaling five miles in Person County through N.C. Moving Ahead!, a transportation and economic development initiative aimed at making maintenance and modernization improvements across the state
- A $1.9 million contract to resurface about five miles of road in Wake County, including Trinity Road at Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh, as well as five sections of secondary roads
- A $7 million contract to resurface 19 additional sections of secondary roads in Wake County, totaling about 46 miles.

“Together, these projects will make a major difference for motorists throughout the greater Triangle region,” said Kenneth B. Spaulding of Durham, who represents Franklin, Granville, Person, Wake, Warren and Vance counties on the board. “This area is growing tremendously, and these improvements will help ensure that our highway infrastructure keeps pace with the increased demand.”