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--> --> Oregon working to speed up highway project timetable SALEM - Gov. John Kitzhaber is looking to a speedup in highway projects as a way to help Oregon's economy, and officials said Monday up to $100 million in work could begin early in 2002. "We want to get projects under construction as quickly as possible," State Transportation Director Bruce Warner said. The Transportation Department estimates that every $1 million spent on road projects equals 21 full-time jobs, so outlays of $100 million could mean work for more than 2,000 people. The 2001 Legislature authorized sales of $400 million in bonds to fund highway and bridge upgrades, the first big infusion of money for road work since the early 1990s. The bond will be repaid by revenue from fee increases that lawmakers approved for motor vehicle services such as auto and truck title transactions. The department had planned to sell the bonds in steps over five or six years. With the speedup in mind, Warner said plans are to sell about $100 million worth next year. Warner also said there's some hope that the economic stimulus package being debated in Congress will boost federal highway aid to states. Some versions of the proposal would bring Oregon an additional $50 million or more that could be spent on next year's projects, he said. Local agencies are submitting project proposals to the state Transportation Commission, which will approve a final list in January. Warner said the early wish lists add up to about five times as much money as is available. The commission has decided that about $200 million of the overall total will be spent on highway modernization and the rest for bridge replacement or repair and road maintenance. The agency says more than 500 bridges, many more than 50 years old, are literally cracking apart and need repair or total replacement. The speedup could mean some projects will be complete by 2003, Warner said. The department is taking two major steps to accelerate projects funded under the bond pro Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing