Ohio meets deadline for stimulus road projects

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The federal government has approved the final highway projects getting stimulus money in Ohio.

The Ohio Department of Transportation said today that it received final authorization on more than $935 million in state and local projects.

Under stimulus guidelines, states have until March 1 to get all of their projects approved. Those that fail to meet the deadline will have their leftover money reallocated to other states.

Ohio has about 395 stimulus-funded projects for highways, airports and railroad development.

Work began last year, but the construction industry expects payouts to peak in 2010.

The state’s largest stimulus project is a $400 million bridge for Interstate 90 in Cleveland. The project is getting $85 million in stimulus funds.