By T. Weber, KWMU
Clayton, MO – Missouri's senior U-S Senator wants the state to get $200-million a year for highway construction.
The current funding plan for the nation's highways runs out in September and Senator Kit Bond chairs a committee that's helping write the next six-year budget for transportation.
But with Congress off this month Bond says that leaves just a few weeks in September to approve the hundreds of billions of dollars in spending.
"We hope we can pass it, but some people have talked about a one-year extension. That's a disaster for highway construction because you can't make multi-year commitments with a one-year extension," Bond said.
One of those multi-year projects is for a new bridge across the Mississippi River. Bond says even if Missouri gets $200-million a year like he wants the federal government will not be able to pay the entire one billion dollars for the bridge.