Members of the Congressional delegation said the $286 transportation highway bill will help address critical infrastructure needs that are not currently being met, spur economic development and create jobs, increase safety and anticipate future highway needs.  According to the United States Department of Transportation, every $1 billion investment in our highways results in 47,500 jobs annually.

“This bill will allow significant investment and progress to be made on our roads and highways in every pocket of the state,” Pryor said. “It will pay off in dividends for our economy and quality of life in Arkansas.”

“This bill is desperately needed by our communities in Arkansas because when we invest in highway and infrastructure projects, we create jobs,” Lincoln said.  “The projects this bill will fund are long overdue and are vital to our state’s economy and the well-being of the entire region.”

"After close to three years of debate, I am pleased to see Congress finally come to an agreement on a highway bill," Berry said. "Our delegation stuck together through it all and secured significant investments for our state. I am excited about this news and am confident that these projects will help Arkansas make long overdue improvements to our transportation system."

“Funding for transportation and infrastructure is very good news for the safety and convenience of Arkansans driving on our highways,” said Snyder.

"The Third District of Arkansas is one of the fastest growing regions in the country, which is why, as a Highway Bill conferee, I worked hard to ensure that our projects were well-funded.  I am pleased that this bill is on its way to the President's desk so we can give Arkansas' infrastructure budget a much-needed shot in the arm," said Boozman.

"After eleven extensions of the Transportation Reauthorization Bill since October 2003, we have passed a long overdue roadmap for transportation funding in America," said Ross.  "This funding will go a long way in meeting Arkansas's extensive road needs.  As an economic ambassador for Arkansas, I am proud to have helped secure the funding throughout the course of the lengthy transportation reauthorization process.  This funding will be used to create new highways and roads, repair dilapidated infrastructure and create jobs and economic opportunities for the future."

Delegation members were able to secure specific funding for the following projects:

1^st District

$13 million        Northeast Arkansas Connector (relocation of Highway 226) in Jonesboro –designated as a high priority corridor

$9 million          Caraway Bridge Overpass in Jonesboro

$5.4 million       I-40/Highway 89 Interchange Planning and Construction in Lonoke

$3.8 million       Highway 77 Rail Grade Separation in Marion

$3.6 million       Highway 165 Railroad Overpass in Stuttgart

$2.6 million       Highway 412 from Baxter County to Ash Flat

$1 million          Highway 412: Paragould South Bypass

2^nd District

$15 million        Interstate 430/630 Interchange Modification in Little Rock

$6.96 million     Rehabilitating and widening Highway 67 from four to six lanes  from Kiehl Avenue to Vandenberg Blvd in Jacksonville, AR.

$2.4 million       Western Loop in Conway for engineering, rights-of-way, relocations, and continued planning and design

$2.3 million       Interchange in Maumelle

$8 million          Rail grade separations identified by the MPO for the Little Rock/North Little Rock metro area, which may include Edison Avenue, Springer Boulevard, Highway 89 extension; McCain/Fairfax; Salem Road

$1.2 million       Interstates 30/440/530 Interchanges for interchange improvements in Little Rock

$1.2 million       Highway 65 improvements in Van Buren County, including construction of passing lanes, bridge improvements, intersection improvements and other roadway improvements

$160,000         Take it to the Edge River Trail: Construction of an 11 mile pedestrian and bicycle trail extending from the Clinton Presidential Library in East Little Rock along the Arkansas River to Pinnacle Mountain State Park at the western end of the city limits

$2.75 million     Central Arkansas Transit Authority Facility Upgrades

3^rd District

$8.372 million Construct new interchange on I-540 near the existing Perry Road overpass Rogers, AR

$7 million          Construction of I-49, Highway 71: Highway 22 to Highway 71 near Jenny Lind, Fort Smith, AR

$7.2 million       Improvements to Jenny Lind Rd. and Ingersoll, Fort Smith

$3.6 million       Widen and reconstruct Rena Road, Van Buren, Arkansas

$2.4 million       Russellville Intermodal Facility construct access roads from AR Hwy 247, purchase Right-of-Way

$16 million        Improvements to Johnson Road. From Hwy 412 to I-540 through Springdale and  Johnson, Springdale, AR

$9 million          Construct and rehabilitate Fayetteville Expressway Economic Development Corridor

$3.2 million       Construct and rehabilitate University of Arkansas Technology Corridor Enhancement Project

$6.5 million       Improvements to US 412 in Northwest Arkansas

$1.42 million     Widen and improve I-540 and SH-102 Interchange, Bentonville

$37 million        Construction of I-49, Highway 71: Arkansas portion of Bella Vista Bypass

$1.5 million       Widen AR Hwy 102 between US 71B and west city limits Bentonville

$640,000         War Eagle Bridge Rehabilitation, Benton County

$800,000         Replace and rebuild Tilly Willy Bridge, Washington Co.

$33,440           Trolley Barn, Harrison

$35 million        Study and Construction of 8th St. in Bentonville from I-540 to SW Elm Tree Rd.

In addition to the earmarks, the conference report included language to name the Mack-Blackwell Transportation Center at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville as a University Transportation Center, guaranteeing it continued funding for the life of the bill.

4th District

$10 million        East-West Arterial: Highway 70 to Highways 5/7, Hot Springs, AR

$6.56 million     Improve State Highway 88 (Higdon Ferry Road) in Hot Springs, Arkansas

$3.168 million   Develop a railroad overpass connecting U.S. Highway 67 and U.S. Highway 371, Prescott, AR

$2 million          Widening of Highway 65/82: Pine Bluff-Greenville Bridge

$2 million          Highway 167: Fordyce to Sheridan Bypass, AR

$5 million          Widen to four lanes, improvement, and other development to US Hwy 167 from LA state line north

$3 million          Develop U.S. Highway 71 (I-49) to Interstate standards on new location between  Mena, AR and LA state line

$3.2 million       Widen to five lanes, improvement and other development to US Hwy 79B/University Ave. in Pine Bluff

$1.672 million   Wilmar Development of SE AR Intermodal Facility

$72 million        Construction of I-530 between Pine Bluff and Wilmar

$75 million        I-69 Corridor, including the Great River Bridge

$50 million        Planning, design, and construction of I-69 in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana (funding will be divided among the seven states).