The Oklahoma Department of Transportation awarded $77.7 million in contracts this week while unveiling its eight-year work plan.

ODOT Director Gary Ridley said the work plan contains nearly $4 billion in spending and includes 449 bridges, 95 miles of cable median barrier and 460 miles of safety-oriented improvements on inadequate two-lane roads.

Ridley said agency officials were conservative in their estimates of funding for the agency and the cost of projects in the upcoming years.

He said recent funding increases by the State Legislature are helping to cover hikes in construction costs as well as anticipated reductions in federal funding. He noted that state funds will make up 40 percent of the agency’s construction budget, instead of 15 percent in previous construction work plans.

“Because of what took place last year at the State Legislature with Gov. Henry and members of the Legislature passing, House Bill 2272, that enabled us to have certainty in our state funding made it possible to keep everything in the program,” Ridley said.

In all, commissioners awarded 32 contracts totaling $77.7 million to improve highways, interstates and county roads in 25 counties. Projects include bridge and highway construction and reconstruction, resurfacing and safety improvements.

Contracts were awarded for projects in Atoka, Beckham, Bryan, Caddo, Canadian, Carter, Cherokee, Cleveland, Coal, Comanche, Craig, Dewey, Garfield, Grady, Grant, Harmon, Harper, Kay, Lincoln, Logan, Noble, Oklahoma, Seminole, Tulsa and Wagoner counties.

The commission — an eight-member panel appointed by the governor to oversee the state’s transportation development — awards project contracts for road and bridge construction every month. The panel’s next meeting is Nov. 3 in the R.A. Ward Transportation Building in Oklahoma City.

Before a project is awarded, ODOT researches, plans and designs work to be done. Contracts are bid competitively, with the OTC selecting the winning firm.