Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed a transportation budget that will target highway work and is expected to pay for 96,000 jobs over the next two years.
The bill will act as a spending blueprint for the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT).
Maintaining infrastructure is important, Kasich said, because of Ohio's position geographically. Manufacturers know that they can move goods to all parts of the country efficiently from Ohio because of its Midwest location and strong highway system, he said.
"We know what the resources are now," said ODOT Director Jerry Wray at the signing. "Our job now is to maximize the results."
Nearly $6 billion will be used by the ODOT for 1,600 highway construction and maintenance projects according to Republican Senator Gayle Mannin.
Local governments will receive about $600 million to go towards road and bridge improvements. An additional million will go toward supporting public transportation, raising the annual state contribution from $7.3 million to $8.3 million in 2016 and again in 2017.
The bill takes effect July 1.
