Gov. Bev Perdue will tap into fed stimulus cash to pay for a new Interstate 85 bridge over the Yadkin River. Forget Mark Sanford, Bev’s taking the cash. Note that an opportunistic commenter suggested they give us South Carolina’s share.

One problem —-the project’s not ‘shovel-ready’:

The bridge is estimated to cost $300 million. State officials will have to apply for a discretionary grant because the package stipulates that half the money be spent on projects deemed “ready to go” in 120 days.

Davidson County Commissioner Fred McClure says a new bridge “would be an economic boon for not only Davidson County but the whole eastern part of North Carolina.”

This is the big project. It will be interesting to watch it develop.