JAMESTOWN Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., convened a special field hearing of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee Thursday to examine how infrastructure investments to U.S. Highway 52 could increase economic development and boost North Dakota's agricultural economy.

"Highway 52 is an economic lifeline for North Dakota's agriculture and manufacturing industries. Many businesses rely on Highway 52 to receive raw goods and transport products to market. But like many of our nation's highways, U.S. 52 is deteriorating," Conrad said. "As Congress prepares to write a new federal highway bill, I want to examine how investments in Highway 52 could grow North Dakota's economy, especially our agriculture and manufacturing industries."

Truck traffic is on the rise across North Dakota. Sixty-nine percent of the goods shipped annually from North Dakota are carried by truck. Highway 52, in particular, has seen a large spike in truck traffic. Heavy truck loads have put added strain on this 361-mile-long road.

Conrad, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, convened Thursday's hearing to examine the condition of U.S. 52 and its impact on the agriculture and manufacturing economies in the region. Representatives from local government, agriculture and manufacturing industries testified at the hearing about the condition of Highway 52 and what future investments are needed to support growing industries.

Conrad said North Dakota received $170 million in federal funds for roads as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

With the current federal highway bill set to expire in September, Congress is beginning to lay the groundwork for drafting a new bill. Conrad said he plans to use the findings from today's hearing to garner additional federal funding for North Dakota's highways.

North Dakota benefited greatly from the last highway bill, completed in 2005. Conrad, a lead negotiator on the bill, secured $1.5 billion for the state, a 31 percent increase over the previous bill. That equates to North Dakota receiving $2 for every $1 in gas tax collected in the state ranking North Dakota among the top four states in the nation for return on gas tax dollars.

"Improvements to Highway 52 will pay dividends for the regional economy. It will enhance the transportation of crops and livestock. It will help increase export opportunities. And it will attract new businesses to the region and create jobs," Conrad said. "As we begin consideration of the next highway bill in Congress, I will continue to fight to secure funding for the critical highway arteries in our state like Highway 52 to ensure we maintain a nationally-connected system."