Senate OKs $1 Billion for Bridge Repairs

The Senate Monday approved $1 billion to repair and replacement U.S. bridges, six weeks after the Interstate 35W span collapsed in Minneapolis, the Associated Press reported late Monday.

The Senate approved the funds on a 60-33 vote as lawmakers began debate on a $104.6 billion overall transportation and housing funding bill for the budget year beginning Oct. 1, AP said.

If approved, the plan would boost federal funding next year for bridge repair and replacement by 20%, but would fall well short of the $65 billion backlog of bridge repairs identified by the U.S. Department of Transportation, AP reported.

The underlying bill faces a veto threat from President Bush for exceeding his request by $4.4 billion, AP said.