The North Carolina General Assembly gave final approval this week to a bill that would allow the state to borrow $700 million in bond money for highway improvements. It now heads to the governor.

Under HB48, backed by Gov. Mike Easley and the state Transportation Department, the state would spend $630 million over two years to resurface roads, add turn lanes on two-lane highways, replace bridges and widen paved shoulders, the Wilmington Star-News reported. Pubic transit systems would get $70 million.

Voters approved borrowing the money in 1996 to speed up construction of urban loops or widen two-lane highways, but the bonds were never sold.