Posted at: 08/24/2009 2:28 PM

Minnesota Road Plan has $50B Funding Gap

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Minnesota's updated 20-year plan for highways identifies $65 billion in needs and only $15 billion available to address them.

The just-finalized forecast from the Minnesota Department of Transportation says the $50 billion gap results from rising construction costs and stagnant revenue.

Even though road planners expect preservation of existing roadways to be a priority, the number of pavement miles deemed poor is projected to grow from 600 now to 1,600 by 2018.

Minnesota Transportation Commissioner Tom Sorel says the 20-year plan is part goal statement, part to-do list. He sought to reassure the public that not meeting every objective wouldn't put them at risk.