Strong oil prices good for North Dakota treasury, not so for roads

BISMARCK (AP) — The same stronger-than-forecast oil prices that are swelling North Dakota’s treasury also could shrink dollars for road construction next year, officials said Thursday.

Oil is used for road construction and making asphalt. The state Department of Transportation already has approved 174 contracts for road, bridge and other projects this year that total $350 million, agency spokesman David Finley said. Bids on those projects came in earlier this year before oil prices began surging, he said.

Bids for next year’s construction projects will begin coming in November but most will come in spring 2022, Finley said.

Steve Salwei, DOT’s director of transportation programs, said none of the state-funded projects being done this year are affected by higher crude prices. Next year, however, things may be different.

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