State officials Thursday released $22.8 million to extend the widening of Highway 101 in Sonoma County south from Pepper Road to Old Redwood Highway on the northern edge of Petaluma, a one-mile project that had been delayed by California's budget uncertainties.
The money will allow construction to begin this year, according to the Sonoma County Transportation Authority.
The project was put on hold in September when California was unable to pass a budget, which affected the ability of the state Transportation Commission to sell bonds to finance the work.
Sonoma County had realized a savings of $22.8 million in local Measure M local sales tax funds and an additional $50 million in state funds when bids for widening from Cotati to Windsor came in under estimates.
The state had agreed to let Sonoma County use those savings for other highway projects.
The state on Thursday released the funds for the Petaluma project and also $38.8 million in other state funds to extend the car-pool lanes three miles in Novato.
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