Critics of Parson’s bonding proposal worried about the cost of borrowing: The state would be on the hook for about $100 million in interest payments over 15 years.

The Senate version requires the state to repay the loan over seven years, saving tens of millions of dollars in interest costs.

It also allows the state to issue the bonds only if the state wins a federal infrastructure grant. One grant application seeks money to replace the Interstate 70 bridge in Rocheport; another application seeks money for bridge repairs.

Officials have said the state is more likely to win federal money if it commits some of its own resources to the repairs. Parson has said that if the state devotes money toward the bridge repairs, it would free up more funds for road repairs.

While the infusion of state and federal money would be a catalyst to repair long-term assets, the spending would not erase the state’s infrastructure backlog.

Missouri Department of Transportation Director Patrick McKenna called it a “good day.”

“It’s a really hard thing to do right after a public rejection in November to come back with an attempt to start putting a down payment on some of the infrastructure needs we have,” McKenna said.