Road projects move forward with reduced traffic
- Created: 05.12.2020
Some states are taking advantage of less congested roads as they move forward with infrastructure projects.
“Given that the traffic is down and everything, I’m going to be looking at accelerating some of these infrastructure projects,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said.
“When you’re doing those on busy roads, it causes a lot of problems,” DeSantis continued. “When those (roads) are no longer busy, and if that’s going to be the case for the next month, then we’re going to need to make use of that time.”
DeSantis’ comments followed an announcement earlier in the day by President Donald Trump about undertaking another round of stimulus, this time $2 trillion on public works programs.
“With interest rates for the United States being at ZERO, this is the time to do our decades long awaited Infrastructure Bill,” Trump tweeted. “It should be VERY BIG & BOLD, Two Trillion Dollars, and be focused solely on jobs and rebuilding the once great infrastructure of our Country! Phase 4.”
Louisiana has also looked to infrastructure projects while traffic is down and the need for economic stimulus is up.
The economic impact of COVID-19 has been devastating. JPMorgan economists forecast a 40% decline in the nation’s gross domestic product for the second quarter and as many as 25 million jobs lost. To kick off the rebound, a bipartisan group of 20 members of Congress wrote to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) urging them to pass an infrastructure spending bill. The idea has been received favorably, so smoother roads may lead back to a healthy nation.