Mass. speaker sees release of road repair funds

Posted: 06/19/12 at 3:45 pm EDT

BOSTON (AP) -- House Speaker Robert DeLeo says a legislative stalemate that has held up $200 million for local road and bridge projects could be resolved by week's end.

Municipal officials have been pleading with lawmakers for weeks to release the money, saying the delay is causing the construction season to slip away and threatening the ability to complete vital projects in their communities.

DeLeo said during an interview Tuesday on WBZ-AM that the so-called Chapter 90 funding was "stuck in limbo" between the House and Senate. But he added that he was confident the deadlock would be broken within days so the funding would get to cities and towns.

Both branches have approved the $200 million, but the Senate proposed including the funds in a broader, $1.5 billion transportation bond bill.

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