Troup County Engineer James Emery said he’s “surprised and disappointed” that Troup wasn’t included in the first round of federal stimulus funding for road projects.

The state transportation board Thursday approved 135 projects totaling about $512 million to be funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. They will be scheduled for contracts beginning in April.

Troup County projects still could be included in phase two, which will total about $420 million and has to be obligated by Dec. 30.

“I am surprised and disappointed” about phase one, Emery said Friday, “but I still expect those projects to be built with the stimulus … I keep telling myself we’ll be all right, that we’ll still be there and our projects will be funded.”

The county’s wish list includes: $25.3 million for the 6.1-mile South Loop project between Roanoke Road and Whitesville Road, although the state is already obligated to pay for that project, mostly with federal funds; $306,000 for a two-foot widening of Gilbertville Road from Kea Boulevard to U.S. 29; and 52.4 miles of resurfacing. Two proposed projects have been deemed ineligible for stimulus funding - $2,632,000 for phase two of the LaGrange Bypass from New Franklin Road to Mooty Bridge Road, and $1.25 million for a traffic signal and other upgrades at the intersection of South Davis Road and Upper Big Springs Road. But Emery said they might get done under state-aid contracts.

He said the county should know about state aid grants in May.

The DOT has a Web site to provide information about stimulus-funded projects at www.dot.ga.gov/gastimulus.