In approving $42.7billion worth of public works bonds Tuesday, voters set off a surge of construction on the state's roads, schools, levees, parks and housing. But exactly how much trickles down to the Valley remains to be seen. If there's one certainty, it's that Highway 99 will get a much-needed infusion of $1billion, including an expected $850million for upgrades along the 274-mile San Joaquin Valley portion.

"I think it means we're all going to be in for a lot of construction delays on 99," said Carol Whiteside, president of the Great Valley Center, a Modesto-based nonprofit that advocates for the Valley. "But it will be great in the long term."

Gov. Schwarzenegger's repeated trips to the region to promote the bonds paid off. The road, housing and flood bonds passed in all five central San Joaquin Valley counties. That's despite calls by some area Republican legislators to reject the bonds for fear that the state can't afford the borrowing. The school bond was less popular but still hovered near 50% approval in the region.

All of the Highway 99 money is expected to be spent within five years. Most spending will be targeted at interchange improvements and expansion to six lanes — three each way — along the entire highway, said Alan McCuen, a deputy district planning director for the California Department of Transportation.

How much more the Valley gets out of the $19.9billion transportation bond will depend largely on decisions made by the 11-member California Transportation Commission. Local officials are expected to seek money for several projects, including expanding several east-west routes, such as Highway 180.

The region will be competing for the money with large urban areas in Southern California and the Bay Area. The Valley has traditionally lost out to the coastal regions. But officials are confident things will be different this time.

"We will be a player — we aren't going to be sitting on the sidelines," said Barbara Goodwin, executive director of the Council of Fresno County Governments, whose mission is regional transportation planning.

Local officials also are hoping to get a fair share of the other infrastructure bonds. The Fresno Unified School District is expected to soon get $15.8million for school repairs from the $10.4 billion school construction bond. Eventually, about $60million might come the district's way, officials project.

The $2.85billion housing bond is aimed at infill development, low-income rental housing and home-buyer assistance programs. The Valley could see at least $80million, officials have said.

The $4.1billion flood-protection bond is mostly targeted at levee repairs in the Sacramento region, but Valley water officials hope some of the money might be allocated for San Joaquin River restoration.

It's more likely, though, that most of the state money for river restoration will come from Proposition 84, the $5.4billion natural resources bond that passed by a slim margin. The bond sets aside $100million for restoration. Also included is $36million for trails and land acquisition along the San Joaquin River Parkway, a 22-mile stretch of riverside land from Friant Dam to Highway 99.

"Prop. 84 will be able to protect the environment that so many Californians enjoy," said Dave Koehler, executive director of the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust.

Not everyone was happy with Tuesday's results. Many Republicans fear that the state can't afford the borrowing, especially if the economy sours. With interest expenses included, the bonds are expected to cost the state $83.8billion over 30 years.

The massive borrowing puts the state in a bad spot, said Dave Cogdill, a Republican Assembly member from Modesto who was elected to a Fresno-area state Senate seat Tuesday. "If the revenues dip because our economy is down the pressure will be on to raise taxes," he said.