Local transportation officials say they could construct dozens of projects in south-central Minnesota next summer if the federal government approves an economic stimulus bill focused on road, bridge and other infrastructure improvements.

The work could range from resurfacing city streets to replacing sagging guardrails on state highways, and it could put hundreds of construction workers on the job next spring and summer, say city, county and state officials. All that’s needed is Congress and the president approving a large spending bill.

While there’s a slight chance a bill could be passed during the lame duck congressional session that will resume Dec. 8, the stimulus bill is more likely to come in January after the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama and the swearing-in of the increasingly strong Democratic majority in Congress.

Obama in a press conference last week said an economic stimulus bill is a top priority for his first days in office starting Jan. 20, and he made clear that he prefers job-creating construction projects over rebate checks.

“We are going to have to make sure we are investing in roads, bridges, other infrastructure,” Obama said, “investment that lays the groundwork for long-term economic growth.”

The House passed an infrastructure bill in September, but President Bush was not supportive of the idea and the Senate didn’t take up the bill. The House proposal topped $26 billion, and there’s speculation that the Obama plan might be several times larger.

Readying projects

“I think this is exciting,” said state Rep. Terry Morrow, a member of the Minnesota House Transportation Committee. “And if the federal government decides to make this infrastructure investment, Minnesota’s going to be ready to roll.”

So are North Mankato, Blue Earth County and many other local governments — hoping that the federal money will be distributed widely.

The North Mankato City Council has included $525,000 in its 2009 budget for reconstruction of portions of Lee Boulevard and Belgrade Avenue in case they might be eligible for a portion of the federal money. Without the stimulus dollars, the projects would be pushed off to a future year.

In Blue Earth County, Public Works Director Al Forsberg has identified $2.85 million in projects that could begin early this summer and be completed by the end of the construction season. They include replacing a pair of deteriorated bridges in two townships and reconstruction of County Road 26 between County Road 12 and Madison Lake.

Forsberg said he has heard talk that 50,000 projects have been identified nationwide, suggesting the odds aren’t much better than the lottery of actually seeing a local project get done. But Forsberg’s approach is you can’t win if you don’t play.

“If you’re not in the pile, you have no chance,” he said.

Uncertain rules
Blue Earth County could easily offer $28 million in needed infrastructure projects, including bridge work ($16 million), roads ($5 million) and dam repair ($7 million), according to Forsberg. But most of those projects couldn’t be underway until late in the 2009 construction season at the earliest.

The assumption is that Obama and members of Congress will be strict about the timetable for the projects, funding only those that are ready to go to ensure that construction jobs are created quickly in the face of a dangerously weak national economy.