MERCED – Continuing to improve regional roadways and enhance public transportation overall, today Governor Gavin Newsom announced nearly $5 billion to improve safety and mobility on local streets and state highways, as well as fund new alternative transportation options and zero emissions projects.

More than half of today’s allocation will provide 600 local governments and regional transportation agencies with their annual funding to fix roads, bridges and other transportation needs statewide.

Among the projects approved is $700 million for repairs and critical upgrades needed for the Vincent Thomas Bridge, a 60-year-old span in the Port of Los Angeles that will soon undergo a major deck refurbishment. Another $140 million will fund truck climbing lanes among other improvements to Interstate 80 in the Sierra foothills between Applegate and Emigrant Gap, a major west coast freight thoroughfare.