Road building costs less than expected

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Contract costs for nearly 500 state road and bridge projects came in nearly 2 percent lower than expected for this fiscal year, the state Department of Transportation said Tuesday.

Transportation commissioners awarded $933 million in construction contracts for the 2002 fiscal year, which started last July and ends June 30. Those contracts covered 489 projects. The department said it was its busiest year ever. "To be this accurate on a program this large shows that our bidding process is working and we're getting a good value on construction projects," said transportation director Henry Hungerbeeler.

More than $300 million worth of projects were financed through bonds, which means the money will have to be paid back later with interest.

Because of the bond payments in future years, there would be little money left for new highway construction, Hungerbeeler said.