Thursday, February 19, 2009

State officials plan to announce Friday which highway projects will be financed with federal economic stimulus dollars.

Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson and Transportation Secretary Deb Miller have scheduled a news conference for 9 a.m. The state expects to receive nearly $1.7 billion from the federal stimulus legislation signed this week by President Barack Obama.

The Kansas Department of Transportation estimates about $348 million of that can be used to finance highway and bridge projects.

KDOT already has said it compiled a list of projects that could qualify. Now, KDOT spokesman Steve Swartz says the agency is ready to announce exactly which ones will be funded.