Pawlenty approves stimulus money for Minn. roads

Pawlenty outlines revised budget
Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed into law today a bill that authorizes the state to spend almost $600 million of federal stimulus plan dollars on roads and other construction projects.
MPR Photo/Tim Pugmire

A bill authorizing Minnesota to spend nearly $600 million of federal stimulus cash on roads, bridges and transit projects is now law.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty says he signed the legislation on Wednesday.

The Department of Transportation needed spending authority to move forward with dozens of road projects, after selecting contractors for the first ones last month.

Orange cones and detours are set to start appearing around the beginning of May.

Lawmakers approved the spending authority without singling out specific projects.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation came up with its road work list based on various factors, including spreading the work around the state and picking projects that are ready to go.