Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Bud Cramer (D-Ala.) announced today that the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved a six-year surface transportation reauthorization bill that includes several highway projects in North Alabama.

Included in the bill are:

- $10 million for the Patton Island Bridge Corridor connecting Lauderdale and Colbert Counties.

- $3 million for the Huntsville Southern Bypass.

- $2 million for the Decatur/Hartselle Southern Bypass.

- $1 million for the Interchange at I-65 and Limestone County Road 24.

I have worked hard to educate the members of the Transportation committee about the importance of our area's highway needs," said Cramer.  "The Patton Island Bridge, Huntsville Southern Bypass, Decatur/Hartselle Southern Bypass, and the I-65 Interchange in Limestone County are keys to the future of North Alabama.  This bill authorizes critical funds that will be used to improve our current highway structure, reduce congestion, and meet the needs of the growing region."

Cramer continued, "Having a strong infrastructure and highway system is a huge selling point and extremely important for the economic development of our area.  I am pleased that the Transportation committee has prepared this bill and I look forward to working for its passage in the whole House."

Also included are $5 million for the I-565 West Extension to Decatur and $1 million to study the North-South Highway project from the Shoals to Mobile.

The bill must now be approved by the full House of Representatives and then to "conference" to reconcile differences with the Senate's version of the bill before going to the President for his signature.