W.Va. Gets $2.6M in Unspent US Highway Funds - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

W.Va. Gets $2.6M in Unspent US Highway Funds

CHARLESTON (AP) -

West Virginia will have access to $2.6 million in unspent federal highway funds for transportation improvements and job creation.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Friday that more than $470 million will be made immediately available nationwide for projects such as repairing crumbling roads and bridges. States must identify how the funds will be used by Oct. 1.

The money initially was allocated to the Transportation Department for special projects known as earmarks from 2003 to 2006. The Republican-controlled House has since banned earmarks, which are provisions tucked into spending bills for lawmakers' pet projects.

But LaHood says money awarded by previous Congresses should be spent to improve the nation's highways, transit systems and ports.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.