AUSTIN (November 19, 2009)—The Texas Department of Transportation voted unanimously Thursday to approve about $2 billion in highway projects funded with proceeds from bonds authorized by Proposition 12, which the state’s voters approved in 2007.

The projects include the expansion of Interstate 35 from four to six lanes in Bell, McLennan and Hill Counties.

"We worked with our partners around the state to establish a prioritization process that would help meet transportation needs statewide as agreed upon by this group of experts," said Deirdre Delisi, Texas Transportation Commission chair.

The list of projects approved Thursday includes expansion of the interstate in Bell County from FM 2843 to FM 2484; from North Loop 363 in Temple to the north city limits of Troy, and from Troy to Woodlawn Road.

In McLennan County, the highway will be expanded from Woodlawn Road to FM 2063 in Hewitt and from North Loop 340 to FM 1858 in West.

In Hill County, the interstate will be expanded from FM 1858 in West to FM 1304.

“This is great news for Central Texas. These much-needed funds will not only improve travel on IH35, it will create jobs, and promote long term economic development in Central Texas,” said Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, who urged TxDOT to approve the projects in the three Central Texas counties.

The Texas Legislature authorized the use of Propostion 12 bond proceeds earlier this year specifically for non-toll highway projects.

Voters approved the proposition in 2007, directing the Legislature to authorize as much as $5 billion in general obligation bonds, which will be paid back using general revenue, for transporation projects.

The expansion plans do not include some four-lane sections of the interstate through Temple and Waco, TxDOT said Thursday, because some projects won’t meet the time frame for expenditure of the bond proceeds.