A coalition of organizations representing contractors and labor unions on Thursday is putting its weight behind a proposal backed by Democrats in the state Senate that would add billions more dollars to infrastructure spending in New York. 

The chamber's budget resolution approved earlier this week included provisions meant to increase funding for major road and highway improvement and maintenance programs over the coming years. 

“We strongly support the Senate Majority’s proposal, as we believe it seizes the generational opportunity presented by the federal infrastructure bill to move our roads and bridges," the group Rebuild NY Now wrote in a letter to top state officials. 

Democrats in the state Senate want to increase borrowing authority by $2 billion to fund the state Department of Transportation's five-year capital plan while also increases funding for highway improvements, as well as the Emergency Winter Recovery Fund. 

Gov. Kathy Hochul's budget plan released last month backs a $32.8 billion capital program, as well as $7.1 billion in local highway and bridge assistance. An additional $13.2 billion would be set aside for core highway construction. But contractors and construction labor organizations are concerned the core highway spending would be reduced under the initial proposal. 

New York is set to receive an infusion of federal aid from the Bipartisna Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law to address an estimated 1,700 bridges and 7,000 miles of highway deemed to be in poor condition.