Transportation bill passed in nick of time

With the transportation bill just hours away from expiring, Congress passed a $105 billion bill Friday that keeps transportation funding at current levels for another two years.

Because the bill passed the House, 373-52, and the Senate approved it, 74-19, the bill moves to the White House for President Barack Obama’s approval. White House spokesman Jay Carney told Reuters the transportation funding would help put Americans to work fixing the crumbling U.S. infrastructure, an indication that President Obama will sign the bill into law. The bill is expected to create or save about 3 million jobs.

According to Reuters, the federal government spends more than $50 billion annually on road, bridge and transit construction projects. The last transportation bill expired in 2009. Construction programs have survived since then through short-term funding extensions like the one passed Friday. The last extension expired Saturday.