Legislature Turns to $1.3 Billion in Debt to Address Highway Maintenance Backlog

Washington State Legislature approved $1.3 billion in new bonds as part of a $16.6 billion two-year transportation budget, down from Governor Bob Ferguson’s original $3 billion proposal. The bonds include $500 million for cost increases on the 520 Bridge Replacement project and $800 million for highway and bridge preservation, unlocking approximately $1.5 billion in new funding for highway maintenance over eight years. According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, more than 7,900 miles of state highways are overdue for preservation work, with another 9,000 miles expected to require work within the next decade.