SALEM - A transportation funding package to fix Oregon's cracked bridges and highways - and create 5,000 jobs for Oregon's struggling economy - will be at center stage this week in the Legislature.

For months, Gov. Ted Kulongoski, lawmakers, truckers and the AAA have haggled over how to raise the estimated $4.7 billion needed to make the repairs over the next 10 years.

Now the groups say they've reached a tentative agreement and the details will be made public this week. That's a major step forward on the biggest job-creation package being considered by the 2003 Legislature.

"There is an agreement," said Bob Russell from the Oregon Trucking Association. "But these things tend to be fluid until they hit paper."

Lawmakers say the jobs created, mostly for construction workers and engineers, will pay well. And there is little question about the need to fix Oregon's bridges and highways.

A recent report by the Oregon Department of Transportation found accelerated cracking in 431 bridges and weight restrictions on 401 others. Truckers have complained about having to take detours in excess of 100 miles around fragile bridges, adding to their costs.

Kulongoski has said he wants to pay for the repairs by doubling vehicle registration fees to $60 every two years and doubling title fees to $60.

The chairmen of the Senate and House transportation committees have suggested raising registration fees to $54 every two years and the title fee to $50.

They would make up the rest by tapping money already available to the transportation department.

Under the proposals, the weight-mile taxes that truckers pay would increase between 12 percent and 18 percent.

In total, the plans would raise between $101 million and $134 million annually for the repairs.

"You can assume we are somewhere in-between" on how much will be raised by the agreement, said Rep. Alan Brown, R-Newport, chair of the House transportation committee.

Brown said the transportation bill is being drafted and will likely get its first public hearing on Friday.

Truckers and the auto club have traditionally been at odds over who should pay for what road repair, and how much. Now the dire situation of Oregon's bridges and roads have brought the groups closer together.

"Truckers and the AAA are now driving down the same road," said Larry Campbell, a lobbyist for AAA Oregon/Idaho.