ForConstructionPros.com

When the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was approved earlier this year, $27.5 billion was earmarked for road and bridge work over the next two years in hopes of generating jobs and boosting the economy. Funds were quickly obligated to states that submitted their list of projects identified as ready-to-go and could provide immediate jobs.

The reality of this notion is that it still takes time to put actual construction projects in motion. While this has certainly been disappointing, the good news is that those job-saving or job-creating projects are finally working their way through the process and many states and regions are starting to see stimulus funds finally working.

According to reports tracking stimulus activity, jobs created or saved during July increased by more than 50% over June activity. Over 75,000 jobs were created or sustained in July as a result of stimulus funding for water, highway and public transportation projects compared to fewer than 50,000 jobs in June.

According to a recent Data Digest report from Associated General Contractors of America, "States have obligated 70% of highway stimulus funds for 6,929 projects as of August 31 (based on figures released by the Federal Highway Administration). However, only 5% of the funds had been expended."

Obviously, the momentum should continue to build as approved funding continues to make its way to states with approved projects. By next spring stimulus-funded projects should be fully loaded, creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs.