Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz is out with a nearly $30 million road and bridge plan for the 2015 construction season, that's more than $8 million over what is included in the county budget.
The county executive blames the harsh winter weather and general cost increases for the hike in spending.
"Now that the roads and ground have unfrozen, we realize there's more roads that need to be done," says Poloncarz. "There's just more damage on roads that we thought we might be able to wait a year or so to get out there. So, it sort of left us no choice."
Poloncarz' plan totals $29.4 million, which is $8.3 million more than what's budgeted. He says the increased cost of this year's road work will be paid out of the county surplus.
The list of road projects spans the county. The Legislature still has to approve the plan.
