INDIANAPOLIS -- Gov. Mike Pence wants to plow $1 billion in new road funding into state roads during the next four years, but the legislature would have to give its blessing and additional dollars wouldn't start flowing for about nine months.

Pence unveiled his proposal at an Indiana Department of Transportation facility Tuesday.

The state's infrastructure needs have become a political issue in the governor's 2016 race since a bridge on Interstate 65 failed and shut down a section of the road for several weeks.

"Indiana is committed to ensuring we have the infrastructure for our families and our communities and our state to prosper," he said.

Pence cited statistics showing Indiana bridges and roads improving every day.

"Despite all of these historic investments we have made over much of the last decade in infrastructure, there is more work to do to preserve and improve our state roads."

About half of the proposed money -- almost $500 million -- would come in fiscal year 2017, which runs from July 2016 through June 2017.

The first $241 million would come from the projected surplus when the current fiscal year ends in June. But the Indiana General Assembly would have to approve that in the session starting in January.

The next $240 million would come from a bond backed by state tax collections. Indiana hasn't borrowed like this for roads since prior to 2007. The legislature again would have to allow this by law because of a moratorium in statute.

About $150 million a year would then come in fiscal years 2018, 2019 and 2020 during the normal budgeting process controlled by lawmakers. That would cover two budget cycles.

The last legislative piece is to allow an early dispersal of $50 million in interest gained on a highway trust fund the state has remaining from the Indiana Toll Road lease.

The administration could also free up $6.5 million a year on its own by refinancing existing bonds.

"What we are getting today is exactly what we should have expected -- quarter-measures that don’t solve a problem beyond the upcoming campaign season," said House Democrat Leader Scott Pelath of Michigan City.