Washington Governor Signs Job Creation Bill

Washington State Governor Chris Gregoire yesterday signed a bill allocating $341 million in federal money to fix state roads and highways, to create thousands of jobs in the state within two years.

The jobs will be created through 35 projects financed by state gas-tax receipts as well as the federal stimulus money.

The first project, a $3 million paving project on Interstate 90, could begin in three weeks.

Two more, lane additions and interchange improvements on Interstate 405, worth an estimated $70 million, are expected to begin work this summer.