Gov. Sonny Perdue has cleared the way for 11 road projects funded by the federal stimulus package to move forward. The projects cost $51 million and span Georgia, from metro Atlanta to Washington County.

Several road projects in Augusta and Columbia County have already been approved for funding from a part of the money Georgia received from the stimulus bill. But the area is in line for another eight and a half million dollars more for local projects, so what’s on the list to get the green. WJBF News Channel 6’s George Eskola has the story.

The State Transportation Board has selected 49 projects from across Georgia as the first installment of hundreds of transportation projects throughout the state that will begin during the coming yeat utlilizing $932 million in federal stimulus funds designed to create and sustain jobs. Count on WJBF News Channel 6’s Renita Crawford for the latest in this developing story.

The Georgia Senate has approved a transportation funding plan that would allow residents to boost their sales tax by one cent to pay for road, transit and light rail projects.

The U.S. Senate could vote as early as Monday on the federal economic stimulus bill, after it passed the House Wednesday night. South Carolina would get $3.2 billion under the current plan. But Gov. Mark Sanford says he’ll have to decide whether he’ll request the money. WJBF News Channel 6’s Capitol reporter, Robert Kittle, has more.

Georgia drivers save at the pump as the gas tax is reduced by four cents down to 14.6 cents. But, the state depends on revenue from the gas tax to fund road construction projects. Georgia is facing a $2 billion deficit and state lawmakers say it will be a challenge to generate reveune. Count on Renita Crawford for the story.