Ga. Department Of Transportation Will Delay 34 Projects
The Georgia Department of Transportation announced it won’t put out $123 million worth of projects because it has not received federal funding for them yet.
April Williams / WABE
The Georgia Department of Transportation announced it’s holding off on 34 projects worth $123 million scheduled to go out to bid in December.
That’s because there’s no guarantee the federal government will pay for them.
The latest deadline for federal lawmakers to pass an extension and fund the Highway Trust Fund is Thursday.
Since 2009, Congress has passed 34 short-term funding extensions for transportation. Only short-term fixes have been passed because the trust fund is running out of money and lawmakers disagree over how to fund it.
Natalie Dale, a GDOT spokeswoman, said she is hopeful there will be another extension passed, but it makes it difficult for the state to plan long-term.
“The more and more that this happens, the larger the backlog of projects we have, so it takes us longer to catch up,” Dale said.
Dale said GDOT delayed more than $750 million worth of projects in the last fiscal year.
She said the bigger financial impact may be on contractors and construction workers who don’t have work when projects are delayed because of a lack of federal funds.
Kennesaw State University economics professor Roger Tutterow said this holds states hostage.
“Even those of us who are strong proponents of smaller government have to acknowledge that probably the least preferred way of getting there is through constant battles and constant stop-gap measures in terms of funding,” Tutterow said.
In July, the Senate passed a six-year highway bill, but House Republican leaders disagree on how to fund it.
Four of the 34 projects are in Cobb County; four are in Fulton and one is in Gwinnett.
The most expensive project on the list is a $45 million resurfacing plan for parts of Interstate 75 through Catoosa County on the Tennessee border.
9(MDAxODM0MDY4MDEyMTY4NDA3MzI3YjkzMw004))
Top Stories
