StimulusBill.org

ACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The impact of the government’s multibillion stimulus package designed to help turn around the nation’s economy will soon be felt on the roads of Jacksonville.

On Tuesday afternoon, President Barack Obama signed the bill into law that includes money for infrastructure projects around the country.

That spending is going to help at least two Jacksonville projects get under way, including one on Beach Boulevard and another on 9B.

“Jacksonville’s huge, and it’s growing. We need this,” said business owner Lisa Oshman.

For 10 years Oshman has owned an insurance company on Beach Boulevard. From her window she can see where Jacksonville will benefit from the president’s stimulus package.

Some of the money, $29 million, will be going to widen a section of Beach Boulevard — a project that has been delayed because of funding cuts in the past. The project is now high on the list of priorities. It will allow the state to hire more contractors and hopefully create more work for people in the area.

Oshman said she hopes the improvement and increased traffic will bring in more business.

The president signed the stimulus bill for $787 billion. Florida is slated to get about $1.3 billion for road projects, and the state is expected to spend about $156 million of that in Northeast Florida area.

In addition to the Beach Boulevard widening project, the state is expected to spend another $38 million on the closed road that is an entrance to 9B — a new road that will connect 9A on the Southside with Phillips Highway in St. Johns County and eventually connect farther south.

Jacksonville was hoping to get a good chunk of the stimulus money, but most of the funds are going to the state.

Mayor John Peyton put in his pitch for $700 million worth of project in Jacksonville, including funding for the new courthouse. However, that’s not going to happen.

“It’s apparent those items on those infrastructure list are not going to be addressed. There will be money filtering through the state, and how that is filter has yet to be determine. Remember, we are dealing with 66 other counties,” said Mayor John Peyton.

Two other local road projects are being considered, including Brandonfield/Chaffee and also in Nassau County.

The mayor said Jacksonville will also see more money from block grants, which could help stimulate the economy.

Article source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29298393/