Oklahoma agency cuts will delay some road, bridge projects

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Oklahoma’s transportation department says the state’s budget shortfall will delay its eight-year plan to fix roads and bridges.

Oklahoma Department of Transportation officials estimated this week they’ll have $31 million less to spend from the Rebuilding Oklahoma and Driver Safety fund, an account dedicated to fixing roads and bridges across the state.

The revenue losses represent more than 6.5 percent of the fund’s previous $471 million balance.

Executive Director Mike Patterson says the reductions will stall some projects this year and delay or postpone other projects in the future.

This week, the Oklahoma Transportation Commission approved $78 million in contracts for improvement projects.