EUGENE (AP) -- Two Eugene-area bridge projects have vaulted to the top of state's fix-it list because of worsening cracks.

Dean Fuller, who is the local project manager for the Oregon Department of Transportation, said the Oregon Transportation Commission has allocated $38.6 million from the state's bridge fund to build temporary freeway bridges across the McKenzie and Willamette rivers at the north and south ends of the metropolitan area.

The urgency comes from "not knowing when that 'fatal' crack is going to come along that means we have to take all the traffic, or at least all the trucks, off I-5 through the area," Fuller said. "Economically, that could be catastrophic."

The project requires several environmental exemptions and permits from local, state and federal agencies. Construction could begin by the end of the year if there are no problems. The temporary spans will remain in use until permanent bridges can be built. Those would take several more years and cost up to $100 million.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski has called for increasing vehicle license and title fees to raise money to rebuild the state's badly deteriorating bridge system, putting thousands of people to work and boosting the state's economy. The state estimates that it will take $4.7 billion during the next decade to keep up with repair or replacement of substandard bridges.

Freeing up money for the Eugene-Springfield area bridges means delaying other projects around the state "and puts a lot of pressure on a lot of people," Fuller said.

"Normally, the design and bidding process would take two to three years, and we're trying to push it through in seven months," he said. "It creates a lot of stress when you work too fast, it's easy to make mistakes, and mistakes can cost a lot of money. I just hope we're thinking of everything."