State finances could delay freeway connectors

Ty Schuiling, San Bernardino Associated Governments' planning director, said today that California's budget problems could delay projects in San Bernardino and Rialto.

In San Bernardino, Sanbag had planned to begin work on new freeway connectors linking the 210 and 215 freeways around late summer. In Rialto, the agency planned to build a new Riverside Avenue bridge around late spring.

But last week, state financial officials stopped issuing funds from California's Pooled Money Investment Account, which led Caltrans director Will Kempton to write a letter to Sanbag and other agencies to inform them that he has decided to suspend awards of bond-funded contracts until California's money supply can flow again.

Schuiling said he nad Sanbag officials don't know how long the projects may be delayed. Even if Sacramento's situation improves, the construction funding is still contingent upon the state's ability to sell bonds in a weakened economy.