Senator Inhofe urges state lawmakers to make infrastructure a priority

NORMAN, Okla. - (KOKH) — U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe is calling on state lawmakers to make infrastructure and transportation a budget priority.

Inhofe's urging came during a press conference held Friday with Oklahoma Department of Transportation representatives in Norman. The Senator has been a long time champion of transportation in the Oklahoma, he'll also be a point person in helping to pass and implement President Donald Trump’s proposed $1 trillion infrastructure plan.

"We have a president now in Trump, who I have talked to, he's dead serious about this $1 trillion infrastructure thing,” Inhofe said.

But, right now, Inhofe’s focus is on the state capitol.

"When you think about the cost and the delay of projects if we don't meet our 10 percent or 20 percent match, then I think that would be, to me, the biggest tragedy,” Inhofe said.

That tragedy became less likely this week, as lawmakers began discussing a proposal that would take $100 million from ODOT. It's a figure Executive Director Mike Patterson says the agency will be able to work with.

"It would make an impact to future projects,” Patterson said. “But to our active projects, at that funding level, we could continue to pay our current financial obligations."

If the state does not make transportation and infrastructure a priority, there is a list of about 80 projects that could be delayed, including the large I-35 bridge project in Norman.