Congress' failure to pass a long-term transportation funding bill is stalling the state's plans to repair and improve roads and bridges.
The Georgia Department of Transportation announced Thursday that because of the ongoing uncertainty surrounding federal funding, the state DOT won't release $123 million worth of federally funded projects for bids in December. The 34 delayed projects were previously scheduled to go out for bids at the end of this year.
Repeated shortfalls in the Federal Highway Trust Fund, which pays for a majority of state road projects, have led to a series of short-term extensions. The latest patch by Congress is the 34th since 2009 and the third in less than a year. It expires Oct. 29.
“While Congress looks for solutions, the clock ticks down to next Thursday’s Oct. 29 deadline,” Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell McMurry said in a press release. “If Congress does not reach an agreement by then, US DOT will cut off payments for infrastructure projects to states and local governments in November. This poses grave challenges for our transportation system.”
Key projects now delayed for at least a few months include:
- A $45 million project to repave a stretch of I-75 in Catoosa County, from Ga. Highway 3/U.S. 41 to the Tennessee state line.
- A $20 million project to repave a stretch of I-75 in Tift County from south of County Road 204/Southwell Road to south of Ga. Highway 32 in Turner County.
- A $3 million operational improvement on Ga. Highway 3 at Windy Hill Road in Cobb County.
For a complete list of delayed projects, click here.
To see the updated Highway Trust Fund Ticker, click here.
