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Stimulus plan funds 2,000th road project

U.S. President Barack Obama greets guests during the annual Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on April 13, 2009. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg)
U.S. President Barack Obama greets guests during the annual Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on April 13, 2009. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg) | License Photo

WASHINGTON, April 13 (UPI) -- The 2,000th transportation project has been approved in less than 41 days since the $787 billion stimulus plan was approved, U.S. President Obama said Monday.

The project -- an interstate overpass project near Portage, Mich. -- will break ground this summer, creating 900 jobs immediately, Obama said during remarks at the U.S. Transportation Department in which he provided an update on how the $28 billion in stimulus funds set aside for road projects are being used.

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"But what is most remarkable about this effort ... isn't just the size of our investment, or the number of projects we're investing in, "Obama said. "It's how quickly, efficiently, and responsibly those investments have been made."

Because projects are costing less than originally thought and are being approved more quickly than thought, "we can utter a sentence rarely heard in recent years," Obama said. "This government effort is coming in ahead of schedule and under budget."

Brisk and fierce competition on projects has resulted in bids coming in millions of dollars lower than budgeted in some states, Obama said.

"Because these projects are proceeding so efficiently, we'll have more funds to go around," he said.

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Even though "I have no illusion about work that lies ahead and how hard it will be," Obama said, "it is now clear that we're heading in the right direction."

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