Hawaii received $125.7 million of the $26.6 billion allotted nationwide for highways under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the White House announced yesterday.

Hawaii has already started 13 of the 23 stimulus-funded highway projects.

State Transportation Director Brennon Morioka said the projects in Hawaii reflect unprecedented collaboration and teamwork among state, county and federal agencies.

“;We took this responsibility seriously, knowing that this money would save local jobs and create more positions for those in the construction field who are struggling to find work,”; Morioka said.

Funding from the Recovery Act has improved more than 33,000 miles of pavement across the United States in one year, the White House said.

“;Construction projects across the country are already creating jobs and upgrading our nation's infrastructure,”; Vice President Joe Biden said yesterday.

The largest projects in Hawaii include a new $34.8 million road on the Big Island, a $21.7 million road widening project on a portion of Kuhio Avenue on Kauai and a $15.2 million project to replace the Punaluu Bridge on Oahu.

Projects were selected by the counties and state based on federal guidelines, favoring areas in economically distressed areas and projects that were “;shovel-ready,”; state transportation officials said.

Bids for projects nationwide were routinely 10 to 20 percent and sometimes as much as 30 percent below estimates, allowing states to stretch tax dollars, the White House said.

Morioka said Hawaii was able to move forward with several additional projects because bids came in much lower than expected.

TOP 10 PROJECTS

Hawaii's costliest federal highway projects under the American Reinvestment Recovery Act:

Source: State Department of Transportation