Roads funds in jeopardy?

California Treasurer Bill Lockyer told state legislators on Monday that California's fiscal situation is so dire that the state government may be unable to finance infrastructure and other projects within two weeks.

The Associated Press reports that Lockyer warned that unless lawmakers can solve an $11.2 billion shortfall, about $5 billion in loans for highway, school and other projects would be denied.

I spoke to Caltrans spokeswoman Rose Melgoza today, who said Lockyer's warning does not mean that highway crews will stop working in two weeks if the Legislature fails to solve the financial crisis.

Melgoza said maintenance work and projects that have already been financed will go forward. What's at risk, she said, are bond-funded projects that are otherwise on track to be accomplished within a time frame of about five years.

Examples of projects that may be in jeopardy, Melgoza said, include the addition of a slow lane for trucks on the eastbound lanes of the 10 Freeway between Live Oak Canyon Road in Yucaipa and Ford Street in Redlands. Another is freeway widening and interchange improvements along the the 10 at Cherry, Citrus and Cedar avenues in Fontana and Rialto.

Melgoza said the 215 widening project that's in progress in San Bernardino will not be canceled if the state's financial mechanism falls apart in the way Lockyer described.