Gov. John Hickenlooper and the head of the state's transportation department say more construction projects will get under way sooner because of a new budgeting plan expected to free up $300 million annually over five years.
    
Hickenlooper and Colorado Department of Transportation Executive Director Don Hunt say projects will begin based on the money the state currently has saved up for projects. It's a change from the current system of waiting to save all the money needed to begin a project, which takes years.
    
The change is expected to free up the money over five years. The governor's office says speeding up construction is expected to create or sustain more than 10,500 jobs during that time.
    
Hickenlooper and Hunt made the announcement Friday. Hunt says the new budgeting plan being implemented now.