Notice to Media

Highway Commission Responds to Stop-Gap Funding Measure

November 13, 1997 -- On the evening of Wednesday, November 12, 1997, Congress passed a six-month stop-gap highway funding bill designed to provide state highway departments around the country with money to continue highway construction projects through March 1998.

This measure provides Arkansas with approximately $105 million for the period from October 1, 1997 through March 31, 1998. However, some of this money was made available in early October through continuing resolutions and the Commission has already obligated a portion of these funds toward specific projects. Further, some of the money is restricted to specified categories and it will be necessary to utilize some of the newly authorized funds for existing projects that are in various stages of development.

"It must be understood that this is not the long-term, fully funded highway legislation that is needed," said Dan Flowers, Director of the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD). "We are pleased that Congress has provided these funds, but this is only a stop-gap measure. We need an increased and stable source of funding for highway improvements."

Given the high cost of highway construction, the Commission must determine how best to spend these funds between now and March 31, Flowers noted. Even though there are many needed high cost projects around the state, he cited the cost of a typical Interstate rehabilitation project as an example. "Construction of that type generally costs $10-20 million per project."

This action by Congress will not provide enough new money for the Commission to award contracts for all the work previously planned for early 1998.

For Further Information Contact:

Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department
10324 Interstate 30, Little Rock, AR 72209
Tel: 501-569-2000
FAX: 501-569-2400
e-mail: info@arkansashighways.com