TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) Highway and bridge construction projects that likely would have been on the shelf for a decade or longer across Ohio are moving to the front of the line now that the state is going forward with Gov. John Kasich’s plan to use the Ohio Turnpike to raise money for roadwork.

Money from the sale of bonds will jump-start 27 transportation projects in northern Ohio over the next two years and will free up cash for another 14 projects in central and southern Ohio. All told, it adds up to about $3 billion in road projects over the next six years, Kasich announced July 22.

"The projects are all high-priority projects for each of the regions," said Greg Murphy, chief of staff of the Ohio Department of Transportation. "Some they’ve been waiting on for decades."

The wide-ranging list of construction projects will touch all corners of the state and will include plans for adding lanes on several interstate highways and rebuilding several congested interchanges.

Work is slated to begin in 2014 or the next year on most of the 41 projects. Final approval is still needed from a state panel that oversees funding for high-cost transportation work.

Lawmakers signed off this year on the governor’s proposal to cash in on the turnpike. The state will raise about $1 billion through bond sales backed by future toll revenues.

Kasich said Ohio will be able to move forward with a large number of road projects at a time when other states are raising taxes or struggling to keep up with needed work. He said improving the state’s infrastructure also will make it more attractive to businesses and will bring jobs to the state.

"It means we’re going to be a much stronger economic artery for America," he said.

The projects include:

Widening Interstate 75 in Hamilton County and building a new interchange at Interstate 71 and Martin Luther King Drive in Cincinnati.

Nearly three dozen multimillion-dollar road projects slated for the coming years were put on hold or delayed in early 2012 because the state’s transportation department said there wasn’t enough money.

The turnpike financing plan essentially erases a $1.6 billion highway budget deficit.

Today's top stories

Blalock Crews Build TDOT's $67M Newport Bypass

New Bridges Part of Iowa's $114M Madison Avenue Project

Eagle Bridge Co. Works On Final Leg of U.S. 35 Upgrade

SAKAI Achieves Record Sales, Production

Takeuchi Recognizes Top Dealers at 2024 Dealer Summit

Equip Expo's Summer Giveaway Offers a Chance for Lifetime Trade Show Registration, Gift Card, Hotel Stay

Tennessee's Pugmill Systems LLC Expands Its Product Offerings to Include Concrete Plants

ASCENDUM Machinery Opens New Savannah, Ga., Facility