BOSTON (AP) - Gov. Deval Patrick has signed a bill authorizing the state to borrow nearly $3 billion to repair up to 300 of the most neglected bridges in Massachusetts.
     
Patrick said Monday the eight-year plan focuses on bridges in most urgent need of repair. The work should create thousands of construction jobs.
     
There are 543 structurally deficient state bridges. At current funding levels, that number would grow to almost 700 in the next eight years, a 30 percent increase.
     
With the added spending, the number should drop by about 15 percent instead.
     
Bridges targeted for repairs include the Longfellow Bridge over the Charles River in Boston, the Fore River Bridge in Quincy, the Whittier Bridge in Amesbury and the I-91 Bridge in Holyoke.