Could Arizona lift the hold on highway projects soon?

Arizona may be close to lifting its hold on six highway projects because of a shortfall in federal funding.

Congress on Thursday sent President Bush an $8 billion rescue package for the federal highway trust fund.

Arizona Department of Transportation spokesman Doug Nintzel says state officials will review the legislation but that the state's hold on the projects likely would end when President Bush signs the bill.

Nintzel says the state remains concerned about the lack of a long-term fix to the federal government's transportation system.

Arizona's $6.5 billion five-year highway construction program gets 44 percent of its funding from the federal government.

The biggest Arizona project put on hold was widening U.S. 93 near Hoover Dam.