The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department has prepared a list of 130 state road projects, costing $1.1 billion, that could get under way quickly if a new federal stimulus law is proposed.
Scott Bennett, the assistant chief engineer for planning, told highway commissioners that the list was developed at the request of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
Commissioners last week approved five highway projects that will be paid for with more than $37 million in federal stimulus funds.
Since the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was signed in February, the department has awarded 77 contracts valued at $202 million financed by Arkansas' share of the federal stimulus funds. Of those, 52 projects costing $42 million and totaling 170 miles of highway have been completed.
Another 28 projects worth an estimated $135.6 million will be under contact before March 2 deadline, the department said.
