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SALISBURY – Thursday, Gov. Bev Perdue requested $300 million in federal stimulus money to replace the Yadkin Rive Bridge, one of the state’s busiest and oldest bridges.

Transportation officials said the bridge is structurally deficient and functionally obsolete.

“There are about 70,000 vehicles using that bridge every day, and that number is projected to double in the next 20 years,” Dan Mikkelson, an engineer with the city of Salisbury, said.

The money Perdue applied for would help pay for the $352 million replacement of the bridge and similar bridges nearby.

The I-85 bridge would be expanded to eight lanes, eliminating its sharp curves and adding wider shoulders.

“It will be designed with better geometry,” Mikkelson said. “It will have better maintenance. It will just be better for the traveling public.”

Mikkelson said the available federal stimulus money is a golden opportunity that isn’t available at the state level.

“The existing funding source for projects of this type is pretty much dysfunctional. There are just too many needs, not enough cash coming in, and DOT doesn’t have a good way of getting this bridge built,” Mikkelson said.

The N.C. DOT said if the federal money comes through, construction for the Yadkin River Bridge replacement could start next summer and be completed as early as 2013.