FAIRFIELD
– While speaking at an event marking the completion of a four-lane
highway connection between Des Moines and Burlington, Governor Chet
Culver today called on Congress and the White House to take quick
action on a stimulus package to address the nation's immediate
infrastructure needs and create new jobs. The Governor said that
funding ready-to-go transportation projects could support thousands of Iowa jobs.
"One of the proven ways to create good jobs is by investing in our infrastructure," said Governor Culver. "In Iowa,
we have tens of millions of dollars in transportation projects alone
that could begin next spring if the funding was available. This would
mean an immediate improvement to both our infrastructure and our
economy."
During his remarks, the Governor noted that currently in Iowa,
there are 20 projects totaling as much as $150 million that are
ready-to-go next spring. These are projects that go beyond those that
are already scheduled to begin construction, and include work on four
interstates and five highways in 17 Iowa counties. It is projected that this work could mean more than 6,000 jobs in Iowa.
A
recent report by the American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials shows the influence that infrastructure
investment has on the economy. The report notes that for every $100
million in highway investment, more than 4,400 jobs are created or
supported.
The Governor made his comments today at the opening of the last section of road in the Des Moines – to – Burlington four-lane
corridor. The event marked the end of the state's plan to build 6 new
"priority corridors" -- four-lane roads designed to connect major
cities across the state.
The Governor said, "Today is a good day for Iowa. The completion of this long-awaited project further shows what we'veknown
to be true: together, with the type of partnership it took to complete
this project, we can do great things for the people of Iowa, and for the good of the country."