Arkansas Is Fighting For Highway Money
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
Arkansas officials say the state is competing for its share of a 318 billion dollar federal highway bill.
And it should be a tough battle.
Congressman John Boozman says some of his colleagues would
rather delay the bill a year than try to meet so many needs with a
reduced figure.
The bill was cut down from 375 billion dollars when it
passed the Senate last week. Boozman expects a similar cut to be
approved by the House as well.
Arkansas needs funding to start construction on new Interstates
49 and 69. Local leaders are, in turn, lobbying their congressmen
and state highway commissioners for a chunk of the money for
smaller projects.
The smaller federal spending package could delay several
Arkansas projects -- like
--a 200 million dollar freeway bypass north of Little Rock;
--two billion dollars to turn Highway 71 into Interstate 49
along the state`s western border;
--1.4 billion dollars for Interstate 69 in southeastern Arkansas;
--And 280 million dollars for a Highway 412 bypass in Northwest Arkansas.
