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'Fast track' for highway funding on-track

House and Senate budget writers are moving quickly to get money in the hands of the state Department of Transportation – to get an early start on the 2013 road construction season.

If passed by both houses, it would get $600-million to the DOT immediately  – and DOT could then start bidding projects. Interim state Transportation Director Grant Levi says it’s better to get going now, rather than wait until normal appropriation bills take effect in July.

"We are ready to bid projects and get them out early," said DOT interim Director Grant Levi. "They key point -- contractors need time to plan. They need time to acquire the resources for the projects before the construction season starts.

Levi says that includes working with landowners and acquiring materials, such as gravel.

"The Beauty of the bill is it allows that to happen early," said Levi.

Don Diedrich is with Industrial Builders of Fargo, a highway contractor. Diedrich says if the bill is “fast-tracked,” it would save the 2013 highway construction season.

"It would get construction going early, rather that waiting until July, when much of the construction season is behind you," said Diedrich. "It definitely is going to give North Dakotans the chance to have those projects built in 2013."

The bill could be on the Senate floor by the end of the week. The House will take it up soon after it passes the Senate.

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