Senate Sends Road Bridge Maintenance Measure to Governor Henry’s Desk

State Senators today unanimously gave final approval to a plan to invest billions of dollars in road and bridge maintenance over the next decade.

House Bill 1078 passed the Senate on a 48-0 vote.

“Today we have made an historic investment in road and bridge maintenance in our state. Oklahomans will begin seeing the results of this bill before the end of this year. In the coming decade, hundreds of bridges will be replaced and repaired while thousands of miles of highways will be resurfaced,” said Senator Kenneth Corn, author of the measure.

The Poteau Democrat said House Bill 1078 will increase annual road and bridge spending gradually to a sustained level of $170 million – using a percentage of growth revenue without raising taxes. The plan will phase in at $34 million each year until the $170 million figure is reached in Fiscal Year 2011.

“One of the most important aspects of this bill is that we will be able to invest in our infrastructure without threatening funding for the education, healthcare and public safety services on which Oklahoma families depend. This bill will make Oklahoma highways safer and will help make a better tomorrow for our children,” Corn said.